ST. GEORGE, Utah — Police are revealing more about what led to a shooting in St. George on Sunday afternoon. The victim, 19-year-old Aiden Gonzalez, was shot in the parking lot of a Panda Express at 1091 North Bluff Street and has since undergone surgery.
According to court documents, at 2:07 p.m. Sunday, officers were called to the Panda Express for reports of shots fired. When officers arrived, they found the victim, Gonzalez, with a single gunshot wound to the abdomen.
Shortly after, officers learned that Gonzalez had been in a physical altercation with another man, Jesus Rafael Salcido Felix, 19, who had fled the area with his girlfriend and young child.
Officers managed to talk to Felix's girlfriend over the phone and facilitated his surrender at their apartment complex. He was taken into custody without incident.
Detectives say that through a series of interviews with witnesses, they learned that Felix and his girlfriend, along with their child, were eating at the Panda Express for lunch. They were leaving as Gonzalez and his girlfriend were entering.
A short time later, Gonzalez exited the restaurant to confront Felix in the parking lot. Witnesses say the two started fighting before Felix lifted his shirt, showing a gun in his waistband.
The fight continued before Felix fired the gun once striking Gonzalez. Felix left the scene with his girlfriend and child, and once getting them home, told his girlfriend to call the police and report the shooting.
Jesus Rafael Salcido Felix faces charges of felony discharge of a firearm, causing serious bodily injury, and aggravated assault resulting in serious bodily injury. He is being held without bail.
