SALT LAKE CITY — One man is facing murder charges after a deadly shooting in the Sugar House neighborhood of Salt Lake City early Saturday morning.
According to court documents, on Saturday at around 12:18 a.m., officers with the Salt Lake City Police Department were called to 1300 East Wilson Avenue on reports of a shooting.
When officers arrived, they found the victim lying in the street with multiple gunshot wounds. The victim was taken to the hospital but died from his injuries.
The family of the victim identified him as 20-year-old Usman Dalal, which SLCPD later confirmed.
Officers said that around 1 a.m., they were approached by 24-year-old Cesar Gonzalez Juarez, who told officers that he had just shot someone in self-defense. At the time, Juarez was in possession of a 9mm, which was empty, and he turned it over to officers.
Witnesses told police that Juarez had arrived at the area where the shooting happened shortly before shots rang out. They said a house party was taking place nearby.
Investigators say Dalal was walking to the house party when Juarez pulled up in a vehicle, and the two began exchanging words. When Juarez and his two friends exited the vehicle, the argument continued to escalate into a shoving match, and at one point, the victim allegedly punched Juarez in the head.
Juarez fell to the ground and retrieved a pistol from his waistband, and fired at least two times. Witnesses reported that following the shots, people started to flee the area, including the victim.
Then, one of Juarez's friends chased Dalal and tackled him before continuing the fight. When the man who tackled Dalal stood up, believing the fight to be over, Juarez allegedly walked up to Dalal and fired more shots at him as he was lying in the street.
Juarez allegedly told investigators after turning himself in that, despite witness statements, he had fired all the shots in one go. However, detectives say they were able to find surveillance footage in the area with audio that proved the shots rang out in two separate volleys.
Juarez is facing murder and obstruction of justice charges. He is being held without bail.
