Utah — As the three-year anniversary of a murder in West Valley City approaches the police department is offering a good chunk of money for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the suspect 45-year-old Pete Ulibarri was shot and killed in a drive-by shooting near 3500 S The West Valley City Police Department said the suspects drove past the home Ulibarri was in a vehicle in the driveway when he was shot Police said they believe the shooting was gang-related and intended for someone else at the residence They said Ulibarri had no gang affiliation and was an innocent bystander who became the victim WVCPD said investigators are still pursuing all leads in connection with the case "No casings were recovered, and there was limited video footage of the suspect vehicle, which appears to be a Honda Insight," the Utah Department of Public Safety said on a webpage for Ulibarri's cold case Anyone with information on the case is asked to call 801-963-3300 The department is holding a press conference on Monday to give more information about the case A woman was taken into custody Saturday and is suspected of child abuse after police said her child was found covered in blood Police said she also tried to take an officer's firearm BY CARLYSLE PRICE SALT LAKE CITY – Sunday, the West Valley City Police Department announced it is offering a $10,000 reward for information on a 2022 cold case homicide it will be the third anniversary of 45-year-old Pete Ulibarri’s killing and police are offering a reward for information that leads to an arrest and conviction in the case a drive-by shooting occurred “just before midnight in front of a home in the 3500 block of 6400 West in West Valley City,” police said in a release Police said witnesses reported a vehicle drove passed the home and made a U-turn before firing several shots Ulibarri was in a vehicle in the driveway and was killed A 46-year-old was reportedly in front of the house and was not hurt “Investigators believe the suspects were gang-affiliated and were likely targeting someone at the residence,” police said Ulibarri had no gang affiliation and appears to have been an innocent victim in the case.” Investigators said they would be available at 10 a.m Monday at the West City Valley Police Department to explain the reward and answer questions about the cold case Utah (KUTV) — A $10,000 reward is being offered to those with information leading to an arrest and conviction in a cold-case homicide 45-year-old Pete Ulibarri was shot and killed outside of his home near the 3500th block of 6400 West the West Valley City Police Department said Witnesses reported that a vehicle drove past the home A 46-year-old man was in front of his house who was sitting in a vehicle in the driveway Investigators believe the suspects were gang-affiliated and were likely targeting someone They believe that some people have information about the homicide The University of Utah today announced a landmark $75 million gift from the George S and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation to establish a new 800,000-square-foot state-of-the-art hospital and medical campus in West Valley City marking a historic expansion of health care access for westside communities The gift will enable the construction of the university’s first off-campus hospital in its 175-year history and its largest multi-specialty health clinic This expansion is a vital step in increasing health care access across Salt Lake County ensuring that the more than 725,000 residents living west of I-15 have greater access to hospital care where currently only one in 10 hospital beds serve the area The new campus will anchor an innovative $855 million university initiative that extends beyond health care delivery and educational opportunities and career development in health care while catalyzing economic development that will build local prosperity “This groundbreaking investment continues the Eccles family’s extraordinary legacy of expanding health care access and education across Utah,” said Taylor Randall the Eccles family has offered both unwavering leadership and financial support for excellence in health care throughout the state in 1965 a critical contribution from Spencer S Eccles helped establish the U’s medical library Eccles chaired the first fundraising campaign to build University of Utah Hospital in 1975 the family made a monumental gift to the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine in 2021 We are so grateful to the Eccles family for their leadership in expanding access to U of U Health’s outstanding medical care ensuring more westside communities have the high-quality health care they deserve.” the new University of Utah Health campus will feature a 90-bed hospital and comprehensive multi-specialty outpatient clinics including heart care in addition to general internal medicine and urgent care the clinics are expected to serve more than 341,000 outpatient visits annually The campus will also provide additional pathways for education and career advancement in medical fields creating over 2,000 new jobs in the West Valley area “We’re thrilled to partner with the West Valley community to expand access to high-quality health care on the westside,” said Bob Carter westside residents drive more than 12 million miles per year to access U of U Health services This new campus is exciting because it will bring comprehensive We also see this project as key to expanding educational opportunities and helping to address our shortage of doctors which is five times greater in western Salt Lake County than in other Wasatch Front communities.” The need for expanded health care in West Valley City is critical to addressing various social determinants of health Current data shows that West Valley residents experience: we are so thrilled about this project because this community—right here in our Salt Lake Valley—has not had access to the kind of world-class medical care that they deserve,” said Spencer F “Our hope is that this hospital and health campus will become an indispensable community resource This campus will be a win-win-win for those living in West Valley and all along the Wasatch Front for years to come.” Since the hospital was publicly announced last year the community has been actively involved in the planning process with hundreds attending numerous stakeholder meetings “West Valley City is the second largest city in Utah and has a growing demand for hospital and specialty services,” said Karen Lang “We are so excited to have this incredible commitment by the University of Utah and other donors whose support make it possible These new state-of-the-art medical facilities will be a wonderful addition for our entire community.” Construction of the new health campus is anticipated to begin this summer The multi-specialty health clinic is scheduled to be completed in 2028 The campus will be located on 22 acres in West Valley City at 3750 South and 5600 West This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page WEST VALLEY CITY — A 21-year-old Tooele man has been arrested and accused of hiding a gun used in a gang-related shooting in West Valley City last month Andrae Robles was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on Thursday for investigation of obstruction of justice police responded to a report of shots fired near Hunter View Drive and Hunter Point Circle in West Valley City Two groups met for what police are calling a gang-related confrontation "The alleged suspect in the shooting fired several rounds at an opposing gang after a large fight," a police booking affidavit states The gunman and others then drove to Tooele to meet with Robles "at a known gang house," according to the affidavit Robles "agreed to take possession of the AR-15 style rifle used in the shooting … in an attempt to hide the weapon from being located by police." Officers later served a search warrant on Robles' apartment "(Robles) admitted to conducting a straw purchase of the firearm used in the crime … (used by a) known juvenile gang member (He) also admitted to taking the firearm used in the crime and hiding it until recently selling the gun to an unknown gang member for $600," the affidavit states The 2News continuing investigation shows a dramatically different action another agency has taken Conduct Unbecoming of an Officer – that’s the outcome of an internal affairs investigation by the West Valley City Police Department The basis for the IA investigation was the allegation of a relationship between Detective Josue Llil and Salt Lake County Deputy District Attorney Adrianna Davis This is a very different response than what we've seen from District Attorney Sim Gill a former Deputy District Attorney in Gill's office told 2News Investigates I mean they were willing to disregard the truth." She blew the whistle about this inappropriate relationship to Gill's administration and to Gill himself Then she resigned after she says they covered it up "West Valley City - clearly their focus was what are the facts and what’s the right thing to do." The Professional Standards Section known as internal affairs of the West Valley City Police Department launched an internal affairs investigation against Det Police Chief Colleen Jacobs issued a disciplinary order to Det "I have now reviewed the case in its entirety I have sustained the allegation of Conduct Unbecoming of an Officer and determined that a letter of reprimand is appropriate discipline for this conduct." She also told Emiliano that he is "so young" and that he acted in self-defense The Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office initially declined to file charges in the case citing self-defense aspects of the case six months later Davis filed a murder charge against Emiliano with the intent to transfer it to District Court where the 14-year-old would be tried as an adult a whistleblower in the case worked for Gill at the time She warned top administrators and even DA Gill about an inappropriate relationship between Davis and Llil that she says led to the "aggressive filing." There are multiple emails and other communications showing this Mills also turned over dozens of text messages between her and Davis In the Letter of Reprimand West Valley City Police issued to Det "The administrative investigation revealed your personal relationship with a deputy district attorney resulted in widespread negative attention for you and the Department This conduct you knew or should have known is unbecoming a member of this Department reflected unfavorably upon this Department and yourself and is unacceptable." "This violation of West Valley City Police Department Policy 326.5.9 is a Category B violation." Allegation # 1 for sexual misconduct was not sustained Human Resource Director and City Attorney Eric Bunderson were copied on the letter from the Office of the Chief Chris Burbank was the Salt Lake City Police Chief for nine years He reviewed Llil’s Letter of Reprimand and other documentation in this case prior to his interview ”That is a police chief basically saying boy you caused not only embarrassment for yourself but for the entire organization and that’s what I’m going to hold you accountable for Given that language I’m surprised this person still has a job," he said "Anytime an officer’s integrity is at question then it does potentially bring in a Brady conflict in court but it also is if you can’t trust them in this past situation how do you ever trust them going forward How do you ever reconcile that as a police officer Or how do you reconcile that as a police chief to have an employee in that category.” and they came with this - I’d ask a lot of serious questions before I ever hired somebody in this position.” “The other thing that’s problematic about it is I got 300-400 applicants for the job so you can always find somebody who is just as qualified but doesn’t have a problem and then that makes them more qualified So why are you going to take a chance on this.” Burbank says while Llil’s letter of reprimand is a strongly worded letter “The lowest level of discipline that exists in the structure.” Llil's letter of reprimand is in stark contrast from what the DA's Office has argued in court filings It was not able to sustain Mills allegations of wrongdoing on that part of Adrianna Davis despite a thorough investigation Mills’s allegations of wrongdoing on the part of Davis despite a thorough investigation." whether or how the DAO determined the allegations Ms Mills leveled against DDA Davis could not be substantiated will not advance this case nor establish a basis for the Court to disqualify the elected DA or his Office." In the State's Response in Opposition to Emiliano's Motion for Relief dated January 14, 2025 Chief Deputy District Attorney Bridget Romano wrote ******* depicts as relevant factual history is based on carefully cultivated excerpts of text conversations between Mss Davis and Mills which have been taken out of context and presented to inflame In an internal email from the DA himself, sent on March 12 Gill claims "salacious unsupported allegations" were leveled by two former prosecutors Court filings from prosecutors list Meghann Mills and Nathan Evershed who worked in the DA's office for Gill and now represents Emiliano "Two former DAO employees have unjustifiably alleged that a juvenile named Emiliano ******* was charged with murder only to appease an attorney in this Office who allegedly was involved in an inappropriate relationship with an investigator from a law enforcement agency." "We take our discovery obligations seriously and are deeply disappointed that attorneys particularly former prosecutors from our office chose to inject lurid and irrelevant accusations into court records and media narratives about the private lives of our employees." "The discovery rules in criminal procedure and relevant case law exist to safeguard defendants' due process rights; they do not justify a salacious shell game of spreading unsubstantiated rumors or engaging in character attacks unrelated to the case evidence." "It is unfortunate that former colleagues chose sensationalism as a tactic to divert public attention from the serious nature of this crime." "He doesn’t care who he hurts he doesn't care who he defames." we will continue to defend the actions of our attorneys and this office when attacked by unsupported allegations." 2News Investigates reached out to Keith Chalmers the Communications Manager for the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office We asked for a response to details in this story Chalmers sent the following email statement for DA Gill In response to the defamation accusation: “I standby what I said in the email sent to our staff,” said Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill For a response to the quote "The depths to his lies and his “We have responded in legal filings to the issues Nothing more needs to be said,” said Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill (University of Utah Health) Renderings show what the hospital complex in West Valley City could look like Officials said the image is for illustrative purposes only and not the final design The next chapter in one family’s long relationship with the University of Utah will help health care officials open a much-needed new hospital in West Valley City The Eccles family donated $75 million through its foundation to aid the construction of the planned west-side hospital and medical campus surrounding it, the university announced this week would feature the university’s first off-campus hospital and its largest clinic offering multiple services Leaders hope the campus will cut down on persistent health disparities and drive times for residents who live on the west side of the Salt Lake Valley. “As a family and as a foundation,” said Spencer F. Eccles, the former banking executive, “we are so thrilled about this project because this community — right here in our Salt Lake Valley — has not had access to the kind of world-class medical care that they deserve.” University officials plan to break ground on the campus this summer, with some doctors’ visits starting in 2028 and hospital beds opening in 2029. For e-edition questions or comments, contact customer support 801-237-2900 or email subscribe@sltrib.com sltrib.com © 1996-2025 The Salt Lake Tribune Utah — An investigation is underway after a fisherman found human remains near a golf course in West Valley City Police said they received a call just after 7 p.m from a man who found the remains while fishing an area comprised of office buildings and the Stone Bridge Golf Club with streams and ponds running between them He said he was fishing in the channel that leads to the "big pond" when he saw something strange in the mud several feet from the shore VIDEO BELOW: Man who found skull & bones talks to FOX 13 News but he initially thought it belonged to an animal But then he used his fishing rod to turn it over It was a human skull in the mud," Morfin said Officers with the West Valley City Police Department responded and confirmed that the remains belonged to a human A state medical examiner is expected to respond to figure out any additional information Morfin said the other remains appeared to be two femur bones and a smaller bone — possibly an arm "We have a missing person out here; we just don't know who it is FOX 13 News has a crew at the scene and will update this breaking news story as we learn more WEST VALLEY CITY — Human remains were found near a pond in West Valley City Tuesday evening spotted what appeared to be bones near the pond's edge West Valley police spokeswoman Roxeanne Vainuku said Police responded to the scene and confirmed the bones appeared human The State Medical Examiner is working to determine the identity of the person No details on the cause or manner of death are available at this time Utah (KUTV) — An investigation into bones found near a golf course in West Valley City is now underway—leaving people in the area shocked and police working to sort out who it could be West Valley City Police say someone out fishing on one of the ponds near the Stonebridge Golf Course spotted a human skull near the edge of the water Local police were called out around 7:00pm Tuesday evening I would have never thought that here," said Bryon Salisbury Golfers out enjoying the Wednesday morning sunshine were shocked to hear about the disturbing discover on a private property off of a large pond on Stonebridge Golf Course it's kind of shocking," said Brad Ball an angler on the water spotted bones at the edge of the pond in shallow water "We played yesterday from 12:00 till about 5:00pm," Ball said "My wife and I kind of looked at each other like was somebody in the water when we were out there?" "So we called in the medical examiner's office—they came in and they are now in that process of trying to identify who that might be and if possible—exactly what happened," said Roxeanne Vainuku public information officer for West Valley City it's too early to say whether it was foul play "Obviously the fact that we are dealing with bones that does indicate at least time or maybe exposure That's not something we'll be able to determine that's something the medical examiner's office will take a look at," Vainuku said "I would never think of that on any golf course to find human remains in a pond," Salisbury said Police said they will be combing through missing persons cases to try to figure out who this might be Anyone with information has been asked to email: majorcrimes@wvc-ut.gov 10:29 AM | Updated: 10:57 am BY MARY CULBERTSON AND GARNA MEJIA, KSL TV WEST VALLEY CITY — On Tuesday’s warm evening a fisherman at a pond in West Valley City began his leisure with about an hour of casting his line before he hooked something — but it wasn’t a fish “I found a skull, a human skull out there and it was straight up out of the mud,” said Phillip Morfin can be a great fishing spot in early spring when the water level is low Mofin said he’d been out there “hundreds of times.” This time he spotted something in the shallow waters about six feet from the shoreline “I thought it was like a ball or a kid toy or something maybe a dog or animal skull,” he said “But it was out there six or seven feet and I couldn’t see the front of it.” It wasn’t until he moved it with his lure that he realized what it was I had a Rapala lure on it — I hooked it and flipped it over and it went upside down backwards and it … stared at me,” he said Morfin said the first two responding officers were skeptical until he walked them to the area and showed them the chilling discovery Morfin said several other bones were found “scattered out there,” including two femur bones along the shoreline Morfin also said he didn’t spot any clothing in the area “There was no mistake about it,” Morfin said He said the officers began making calls and their “game faces” came out He went back to the parking lot to fill out a report as they began to process the scene “It didn’t really sink in,” he said “but you know today it’s kind of sunk in Phillip Morfin stumbled on a human skull in a West Valley City pond while fishing he speaks about the tough emotional impact the experience had on him in days following While Morfin is still processing the significance of the discovery others are also anxious for more information “We never want to believe that our loved maybe you know gone but … the worst part is not knowing,” said Diane Carpenter Carpenter’s granddaughter, Kandis Harris, is one of Utah’s many missing persons you’re hoping for answers,” Carpenter said The pond where the discovery was made is possibly significant in Harris’ case because she was reportedly spotted near the area after her July 2021 disappearance “Even knowing if it’s a male or female right now… makes a big difference adding that she contacted the detective over Harris’ case to see if there is a connection between them Morfin and Carpenter agree and hope the discovery helps some family searching for answers “I found somebody out here that somebody else was looking for it’s somebody’s person — it’s their family member,” Carpenter said The Utah Medical Examiner’s Office is working to identify the remains any information about Harris’ case can be relayed to the Salt Lake City Police Department (Chris Samuels | The Salt Lake Tribune) A TRAX train passes by West Valley City Hall After three coin flips — all heads — and a late runoff Utah’s second-largest city landed its newest council member Tuesday night District 4 covers the community’s southwest corner Thank you for your support,” Wood said as she brushed away tears after taking the oath of office I hope that I can serve as well as each of you have.” Wood is now the second woman on the council, serving alongside Mayor Karen Lang. She overcame a crowded field of other applicants that featured former Republican House Rep. Fred Cox, former District 4 candidate Darrell Curtis and two planning commission colleagues. In total, 15 candidates completed roughly five-minute interviews before the six remaining council members Tuesday night. In the first round of voting, four applicants received votes. Wood led with three votes in her favor. Amitonu Wesley Amosa, the bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Samoan-speaking Mapusaga Ward; Greg McPherron, a claims adjustor; and Renee Layton, a city planning commissioner, each garnered one vote. By state law, if no candidate wins a majority of the votes, the race goes to a runoff. The second round, however, can only include two candidates. So, Amosa, McPherron and Layton were forced into a round-robin coin toss tournament, leaving their fates to a commemorative coin flipped by City Recorder Nichole Camac. Amosa won both of his matches and advanced to the runoff. There, despite his stroke of luck, he faltered five votes to one to Wood. “I would like to thank all of the candidates who applied for the West Valley City Council,” Lang said after the second round. “Your willingness to step up and serve our community is truly appreciated. I encourage each of you to stay active and engaged in shaping the future of our city.” Wood, who works as the controller for intellectual property law firm Workman Nydegger, has lived in West Valley City for 38 years. In her remarks to the council before the first vote, she highlighted her financial acumen and her almost eight years of public service experience on the planning commission as strengths she will bring to the dais. She wants to add affordable housing in Utah’s second-largest city and boost its public image as a great place to live, work and raise a family. “I’m incredibly impressed by the caliber of so many of my neighbors who submitted their names to serve the people of District 4 on our City Council,” Fitisemanu, the Democratic state lawmaker, said via text on Wednesday. “I have full confidence that our mayor and council have made a decision that will serve our community well.” Wood will have a little less than a year to pursue her priorities on the council. The current term ends in January 2026, but she plans to run for a new, full four-year cycle on the council. sltrib.com © 1996-2025 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. SALT LAKE CITY —The University of Utah announced plans to open its first off-campus hospital in West Valley City. The plans became a reality thanks to a $75 million donation from the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation. University President Taylor Randall announced the donation and future hospital to a large group of university and community leaders at a press conference in the foyer of the John R. Park Building at the U. "This gift will change lives for generations to come," Randall said. He said the new hospital will not only bring world-class health care to the community in West Valley City, but it will also allow residents of the city to receive job training and find employment. He said the university hopes to provide a system that removes barriers, citing conversations with people in West Valley City about their needs while planning the hospital. "Today, with this announcement, we are truly defining history, and we're thrilled to step forward into a future of more equitable health care and opportunity for all," Randall said. He said he has met with West Valley City community members over the past year to better understand their needs. "West Valley is a community that has remarkable dreams and hopes — but would like better healthcare, better access to education and better access to tools of prosperity," he said. Spencer F. Eccles said this "landmark gift" is the largest in the foundation's history and a donation focused on the future. He said it is hard to think that it took 175 years to get to this point — the years the university has been running — and he is overwhelmed by all of the people who came to the event. "I am humbled for all of you to be with us to celebrate this," he said. "I'm very proud to say that the University of Utah health system in the past 10 years has been rated the number one hospital in Utah and one of the top facilities in the country," he said. "We're very proud to be the state's top choice for patient care, and today we're very proud to celebrate what's next for health care in our community, our health system and this region." West Valley City Mayor Karen Lang thanked the Eccles family for its commitment to health care in the city and said the new hospital represents hope. She said she is "thrilled" citizens in her city will have a place for moments of healing and opportunity. She said West Valley City is the second largest city in Utah and has a growing demand for hospital services, which the new facility will address. Lang said she looks forward to seeing young people in West Valley City become the next generation of doctors and medical staff, allowing them to give back to the community that raised them. "Through ongoing cooperation, we are creating a hospital and health campus that truly serves the people who will call it their health care home, infusing such significant financial investment into this community cannot help but strengthen our city's economy and workforce," Lang said. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said about seven years ago he became "obsessed" with medical disparities throughout Utah, saying those who live in Salt Lake City have a 10-year-longer life expectancy than those living just 15 or 20 minutes away in West Valley City. "I couldn't believe that that was happening here, and there had to be some things that we can do to change that," he said, citing the One Utah Health Collaborative he started to address health care issues in the state. The West Valley location where University of Utah Health is planning to build a new hospital and medical campus. (Photo: University of Utah)Cox said when he got a call about plans to build the new West Valley City medical campus a few years ago, he knew this was the way to change that. He said Tuesday would go down in history as the plan to expand has never been done in Utah. No other family has done more for Utah than the Eccles family, Cox said, adding that carrying forward a tradition of giving through multiple generations as they have done is rare. "Of all their gifts … I believe that this one, in particular, could have the largest impact of anything else they have done in the past century," he said. Cox said this hospital will provide an economic impact and can break an intergenerational poverty cycle and "transform generations." Randall said this hospital represents a new approach, where residents of a city can get training and health care at the same location. He said the University of Utah is one of just nine universities in the U.S. with an integrated health care system, which he said helps it improve lives of individuals. He said the new campus is an example of that, and he hopes a model for other systems. He said residents of West Valley City drive 12 million miles a year, making trips to the University of Utah Hospital, saying the new campus will eliminate that need. Lisa Eccles, Spencer Eccles' daughter, said they are excited to be partners on this project. She said the community has not had access to the health care it deserves and this will bring the university's finest doctors from over 200 specialties to West Valley City. "Together we will. We will and can save lives. Together, we'll create a health, education and economic hub that will benefit the people of West Valley, the university and the entire state of Utah for decades to come. And I can tell you, our family cannot wait to get started," she said. The U. estimates construction on the hospital at 3750 South and 5600 West will begin this year and the hospital will be completed in late 2029. It has plans for an outpatient facility and emergency room to open in 2028 ahead of the rest of the hospital. Armstrong Williams takes on the news of the week and asks the questions you want answered. Don’t miss our weekly town hall. cars severely damaged in fireby Megan Brugger A home was severely damaged in a West Valley City fire Utah (KUTV) — A home was severely damaged in a West Valley City fire with assistance from Unified Fire Authority responded to the fire near 6935 West Arlene Bonnie Drive just before 2 p.m they said they saw a "heavy fire" consuming the home and three cars 12:25 PM | Updated: 12:42 pm BY BRIAN CARLSON SALT LAKE CITY – The University of Utah announced the construction of a new state-of-the-art hospital in West Valley City Tuesday It’s expected to expand access to first-class healthcare for more than 725,000 Utahns living west of Interstate 15 The new hospital will be the university’s first off-campus hospital in its 175-year history “The Eccles family has made an extraordinary gift of $75 million to build a University of Utah Health Hospital and health campus in West Valley,” Taylor Randall The governor, West Valley City mayor, top U of U administrators and Eccles family were all there to help make the announcement. The George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation donation will help get construction of the hospital started Although no renderings of the new in-patient hospital are available until the groundbreaking this summer, the university shared the hospital will be built on 22 acres at 5600 W. 3750 S The 800,000 square foot campus will house 100 hospital beds and provide all services for a full working hospital “It’s not just a hospital and its specialties. It’s also bringing 2,000 jobs and the education and training that will happen right there on campus,” Katie Eccles Burnett, advisory board member for the Foundation “To stay in our own community and have the superb healthcare we’ll have and the opportunity for our kids to be working there as doctors and nurses is just going to be phenomenal,” Karen Lang Utahns living on the west side of the Salt Lake Valley have a life expectancy nearly 10 years lower than Utahns who live in east-side communities The new hospital is meant to bridge that healthcare gap to improve access to care for those on Salt Lake’s west side Construction of the new West Valley hospital is scheduled to be completed in 2028 with hospital rooms expected to open in 2029 LOCAL NEWS 4:28 PM | Updated: 7:46 pm A house that caught fire Sunday afternoon is under investigation according to the West Valley City Fire Department BY ALTON BARNHART WEST VALLEY CITY — The West Valley City Fire Department is investigating a house fire that broke out on the afternoon of April 6 WVCFD responded to a structure fire near 6900 W @WVCFD responded, with assistance from Unified Fire to a structure fire at 6935 W Arlene Bonnie Dr just before 2pm today. On arrival, heavy fire was observed at the house with 3 cars involved. The fire was quickly knocked down. Currently overhauling. pic.twitter.com/23oeADd15A — WVC Fire Department (@wvcfd) April 6, 2025 the WVCFD said three cars had burned in the driveway WVCFD Battalion Chief Sean Hoffman said the residents were able to evacuate Unified Fire assisted in putting out the fire The cause of the fire is currently under investigation WEST VALLEY CITY — Two people were seriously injured in a shooting at a party in West Valley City early Sunday A fight broke out and was reported by several neighbors in the area of 3100 Timeron Dr they received a report of shots fired in the area Officers found two people who had been shot and began rendering aid to them They were taken to a hospital in serious condition Johnson said one of the people who was shot suffered a life-threatening injury and the other had been stabilized in the hospital with injuries that did not appear life-threatening Officers tried to interview people at the house party but they were "uncooperative," Johnson said Detectives found evidence at the scene and "believed they had located the person who was responsible for the shooting." That person Additional information was not immediately available WEST VALLEY CITY — Heartbreak and devastation for a West Valley family who lost everything in a fast-moving house fire KSL-TV was there late Monday afternoon as the family members walked through their charred home for the first time since it caught fire "Everything is gone," said an emotional Yosi Carraso who is one of three children in the family and it's all gone," Yosi Carraso said when Yosi and her mother were in the kitchen and noticed thick heavy smoke coming from the side of the house so they came in fast," said Nidia Carraso and Nidia Carraso ran down to wake him up and get the other two kids out of the house let's get out," Nidia Carraso said she screamed The Carraso family's house burned on Sunday in West Valley City but they only had the clothes on their back "Just grateful with God my kids are out .. We didn't lose anybody," said Nidia Carraso Seven years of your life up in flames within seconds She said the family will have to "start from scratch and build up from the bottom again." Investigators said the fire started inside a back shed next to the garage They are still trying to figure out what set it off For those wanting to help the family, friends have set up a GoFundMe* account to help the family rebuild *KSL.com does not assure that the money deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries If you are considering a deposit to the account you should consult your own advisers and otherwise proceed at your own risk SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — Thousands in Salt Lake County lost electricity Wednesday morning The utility company's crews made fast work of getting service restored RMP reported approximately 3,870 customers in Kearns and West Valley City were being affected by a power outage that began shortly before 7 a.m While the company set an estimated time of restoration at 10 a.m. a Rocky Mountain Power spokesperson told KUTV The company was still investigating the cause as of the publish time of this article but crews attributed the disruption to a tripped breaker at a substation RMP was still working to figure out what exactly tripped the breaker in the first place WEST VALLEY CITY — West Valley police are investigating a double shooting that is likely drug-related Police said gunshots were reported in the area of 3860 Burningham Drive Wednesday just before 11:30 a.m West Valley police said two people were wounded in the shooting and taken to a hospital with serious injuries The victims were found in separate places: One was outside a Taylorsville elementary school and the other was dropped off at a medical center "One of the gunshot victims was immediately rushed into emergency surgery so we were only able to get limited information from him We're still trying to ascertain what exactly did happen here It appears to be drug-related," said West Valley Police Lt Officials said officers were questioning a minor but didn't specify how the person was involved Police were examining a damaged car Wednesday afternoon that may have been involved in the shooting Police said it's likely more people were involved in the incident and the person who ended up at the school was likely driven there by a different car Granger High School and Taylorsville High School were placed "under secure protocol" by the Granite School District as a precaution while police investigated the shooting Both police and school officials say the schools were not involved GRANTSVILLE — A new outdoor swap meet is set to launch on Sunday in Grantsville and it's expected to draw some of the vendors who operated at the now-defunct Redwood Swap Meet in West Valley City Some of the organizers were associated with the Redwood Swap Meet, but the Grantsville Marketplace The swap meet at 512 Sheep Lane on the grounds of Burt Brothers Motorpark will open at 8 a.m Plans are to hold the swap meet each Sunday and organizers are thinking of expanding to Saturdays The closure of Redwood last December came about because of plans to redevelop the land and other smaller business operators dependent on the income said he has encouraged many of the Redwood vendors to take part in the Grantsville operation expected to draw 200 or so sellers on Sunday and more going forward Gutierrez is not involved in Grantsville Marketplace and said he's scouting for possible swap meet sites closer to the Salt Lake City urban population area The Redwood Swap Meet had hosted around 800 vendors making it among the largest of the informal retail operations in the area "Not everyone can afford to set up their shops at strip malls due to risk The swap meet gives them the opportunity to do this once (or twice) a week without having to invest as much time money and risk," Luna said in a message to KSL.com He's not aware of any outdoor swap meets in the area that match the size of Grantsville Marketplace but said he senses demand and interest from both vendors and the general public Entry to the Grantsville Marketplace will be $2 per person "We will have a variety of vendors — food vendors We will be having music of different genres every other week when able to," Luna said 6:05 PM | Updated: 6:11 pm BY ANDREW ADAMS WEST VALLEY CITY – Police said two people were wounded and another was being detained for questioning Wednesday after a shooting that left multiple area schools under precautionary “secure” protocols. According to West Valley City Police Lt dispatch received a call about a shooting around 11:30 a.m. and officers located a car near the corner of 3860 S “That’s obviously been involved in a shooting,” Katz told reporters “There’s evidence of a shooting in the vehicle itself.” Katz said around the same time, Taylorsville Police received a call about a gunshot victim found near an elementary school and an additional gunshot victim being dropped at a medical clinic in West Valley A juvenile was being detained for questioning Police did not specify whether the juvenile was a witness or a person of interest or a suspect “One of the gunshot victims was immediately rushed into emergency surgery so we were only able to get limited information from him,” Katz said “We’re still trying to ascertain what exactly did happen here Katz said it was likely that more people were involved in the shooting than police currently knew Another car dropped off one of the victims near the Taylorsville elementary Katz characterized the injuries to the shooting victims as “serious.” Police said they did not believe there was any ongoing danger to the public officers canvassed the neighborhood where the damaged car was found knocking on doors in search of witnesses and any video that might provide clues as to what happened Emma Layton and Scott Purvis said they were in the basement when they heard what they initially believed were fireworks “And then (Purvis’) little sister called us and said they were gunshots,” Layton told KSL TV Layton said she and Purvis went outside before police had taped off the area and saw blood on a sidewalk and driveway across the street about one house down from where the damaged car was “It’s just basically right behind their cars,” Layton said Purvis said his family had lived on Burningham Drive for about 10 years and — other than some property crimes — it had been a relatively quiet street “It’s definitely the craziest thing that has happened,” Purvis said Follow @KSL5TV Utah (KUTV) — A fisherman found human remains at a fishing pond located near a West Valley City golf course The angler was at the Stonebridge Golf fishing pond located just west of Bangerter Highway between Lake Park Boulevard and Parkway Boulevard around 7 p.m on Tuesday when they spotted what appeared to be human bones near the edge of the pond on private property Officers responded to the scene and confirmed the bones were human remains The medical examiner's office is working to retrieve the remains and will attempt to identify the person police do not have information about the cause or manner of death Utah — Some residents of West Valley City had no running water for several hours Saturday afternoon after breaks in multiple water main pipelines the Granger-Hunter Improvement District reported three pipeline breaks in the water distribution system It impacted the area between Bennion Road and 2200 West Officials said they expect water service to resume within 6-10 hours (as of 2:30 p.m.) Another occurred at the intersection of Mock Orange Drive and Eucalyptus Way with residents in "surrounding areas" impacted for an estimated 4-6 hours The third was at 3600 West 2370 South and impacted commercial businesses on 3600 West The estimated time of restoration was also 4-6 hours The Improvement District added that those impacted can be reimbursed for bottled water purchases Utah (KUTV) — West Valley City police reported two adults had been injured and a juvenile was in custody in a suspected drug-related shooting that prompted multiple schools to activate secure protocols The shooting happened shortly before 11:30 early Wednesday afternoon officers were dispatched to an apartment building near 4100 South and 2200 West in West Valley City where they found a vehicle that appeared to have been involved in a shooting At the same time police were being called to the West Valley City incident Taylorsville police were being notified that a shooting victim had been found near a school It wasn't clear if that school was Taylorsville Elementary which was the last school of the nine Granite School District locations to have its secure protocol lifted Shortly after the victim and vehicle were discovered by police a second shooting victim was "dropped off" at a hospital in West Valley who was the only other alleged person involved Police said all parties were accounted for It wasn't known what led investigators to the juvenile None of the involved parties have been identified and their ages and genders weren't disclosed Investigators believed the shooting was drug-related GSD ordered nine schools in the area to be placed on "Secure" protocol as police responded to the neighborhood Just over one hour after the protocol order and GSD announced classes across the district had resumed It wasn't immediately known if either shooting victim faced charges relating to the incident Matthew Jacobson reported from Salt Lake City WEST VALLEY CITY — A 16-year-old boy is facing charges in juvenile court tied to a shootout in West Valley City that injured two people inside a car during an illegal gun sale The teen was charged in 3rd District Juvenile Court with aggravated robbery a first-degree felony; three counts of being a restricted person in possession of a weapon and discharge of a firearm causing injury second-degree felonies; plus obstructing justice and aggravated kidnapping On Feb. 12, police responded to a report of shots fired near 3860 Burningham Drive (2100 West) All parties had left the scene before police arrived But officers soon learned that two people had been shot One was found outside Taylorsville Elementary School and the other at Granger Medical Center The 16-year-old boy was with a 19-year-old gunshot victim at the school That victim had been shot in the chest and hand While an officer was tending to the injured man the 16-year-old picked up his coat and a gun fell out The teen was taken to the West Valley Police Department for questioning While the teen was left alone in a secure interview room he "began using tissues and trying to clean blood from his hands and shoes." An officer entered the room and told him to stop but the teen "got down on all fours and began placing his palms down on the carpet and began vigorously rubbing his palms on the carpet several times." Detectives also scoured the area where the shooting occurred for doorbell or surveillance video They found footage showing a Honda with three males inside — including the 16-year-old who was driving — parked behind an Oldsmobile with two males inside told police he had arranged to buy a gun from someone on Instagram something does happen," he told investigators The man is seen in the video getting out of the Oldsmobile and getting into the front passenger seat of the Honda the teen locked the doors to the Honda and told the others in the back seat to shoot the man The man saw someone point a gun at his head and a fight ensued The man was shot before he was able to get out of the Honda The other man in the Oldsmobile later told detectives when he "saw that the Honda was rocking back and forth," he got out of the Oldsmobile went up to the Honda and fired shots into the rear passenger seat "A search of the Honda yielded three firearms Ammunition found inside the Honda matched the caliber of unspent bullets recovered from (the 16-year-old)," the charges state the Honda was riddled with multiple bullet holes and blood in the back seat to go "under secure protocol" as a precaution per the Granite School District while police investigated the shooting The 16-year-old was also charged in November in a separate case with theft by receiving stolen property a second-degree felony; failing to stop for police a third-degree felony; marijuana possession and reckless driving a class B misdemeanor; and not having a driver's license yet the teen was spotted by Taylorsville police in a stolen Toyota Tundra that fled from officers and crashed into a parked minivan The rest of the menu bears repeated exploration It’s packed with other equally fabulous dishes The Banh Mi Thit Nuong – nestled curiously on the appetizer section of the menu The banh mi comes on a hefty 12″ baguette It’s a rewardingly fun textural thing to wrangle I’ve yet to manage my attempt at saving half for later Pickled veg and jalapeno add some zip and crunch I know of few better ways to part with a Hamilton Subscribe to our paid newsletter for $5 and help keep our stories free of automated advertising Hi, I’m Stuart, nice to meet you!  I’m the founder, writer and wrangler at Gastronomic SLC.  I’m a multiple-award winning journalist and have written in myopic detail about the Salt Lake City  dining scene for the better part of seventeen years I’ve worked extensively with multiple local publications from Visit Salt Lake to Salt Lake Magazine not least helped to consult on national TV I’m also a former restaurant critic of more than five years    I’m largely fueled by a critical obsession with rice alliteration and the use of big words I don’t understand   What they’re saying about me: “Not inaccurate” Want to know more? This is why I am the way I am. Latest Utah food news Food features Eat Here Now Privacy and disclosure Neve | Powered by WordPress Utah (KUTV) — A drug-related investigation conducted by Salt Lake City detectives and SWAT officers resulted in the seizure of tens of thousands of dollars worth of illicit substances officers from the Violent Criminal Apprehension Team and the SWAT Team executed a court-authorized search warrant at a residence in West Valley City as part of an ongoing investigation authorities confirmed that investigators confiscated 1.6 pounds of suspected methamphetamine The street value of the seized drugs is estimated at $20,000 and police have not yet released additional information including details about potential suspects --------------------------------------------------- KSL INVESTIGATES 6:56 PM | Updated: 6:59 pm BY COURTNEY JOHNS WEST VALLEY CITY — Newly released body camera footage obtained exclusively by KSL Investigators provides a closer look at how West Valley City police handled a welfare check at a home where five family members were killed in December A 911 call brought officers to the home just after 11 p.m Family members asked for a welfare check after not being able to reach anyone inside the home for several days The body camera footage reveals officers arrived within 15 minutes of the call and spent almost an hour on the scene West Valley City police officers outside of the home of Sha Reh and Bu Meh They found the family’s two cars in the driveway No one had heard from the family of six in three days They checked traffic cameras and license plate readers to see where the cars had last been spotted Cellphone pings indicated the family’s phones had not left the area in days and their shoes were all left at the front door But police officers did not see or smell anything they believed gave them enough reason to break into the home “There have been like 75-80% of these that just seem really weird,” one officer is heard saying “but for whatever reason they didn’t tell family.” where they discovered five members of the family dead in a murder suicide a former deputy chief who retired from the Unified Police Department after 34 years of experience in law enforcement said the officers did a lot right that first night But he believes they missed one major opportunity: climbing the fence and going into the backyard Bertram said the community care doctrine allows officers to go into places they normally wouldn’t have the right to enter without a warrant to ensure public safety “There are there are multiple people in the house that have not been seen.” Chris Bertram giving his thoughts about what West Valley City officers could have done differently during the welfare check Some other misses Bertram pointed to were the fact officers did not try to open the windows or use a ladder to look into the living room window where two of the family members’ bodies were later found “I would say the great cops were the ones that paid attention to the 20% and became heroes,” he said Officers discussed the odd circumstances during the welfare check it could be some sort of murder-suicide could have happened but there’s no evidence of that,” one said there’s no bullet hole through the glass there’s no blood on the wall,” another officer responded “I’m not seeing or smelling anything they’re not going to be any more deceased,” said an officer West Valley City officers finding the fence Officers told the family there was nothing more they could do that night “I’m sorry you guys are going through this I know it’s hard,” an officer told the loved one who requested the welfare check Bertram said if officers ever have questions on scene they can call a city attorney and for advice “‘Here’s what I’m faced with Do you think we have the right to go in there?’ Let the attorney weigh in on what they’re doing,” Bertram said “(He was) just kind of rocking back and forth and wouldn’t, wouldn’t acknowledge us, wouldn’t speak to us, but I didn’t feel comfortable approaching him,” the friend told the 911 operator. they waited over 5 minutes for the fire department to bring a ladder to get over the fence West Valley City fire crews providing a ladder for police Police found 17-year-old Sha Reh shot on the garage floor officers found the rest of his family dead West Valley City police later reported the father had killed his wife Bu Meh sometime between late Friday and early Saturday Bertram does not believe any officer should be disciplined for not doing more the night of the welfare check but hopes it’s something everyone can learn from “The experience that they had with this case and the institutional cultural experience of that whole department they will probably make different decisions in the future,” Bertram said West Valley City police officers searching the home for the family KSL asked West Valley City police about Bertram’s analysis the city’s Deputy Director of Communications Officers who responded to a welfare check at the Oxford Way home spent more than an hour there knocking on doors and looking for any evidence that something was amiss They were able to see into the fenced backyard of the home nothing was evident to indicate the tragic events that we now know had already occurred This tragedy was ultimately discovered by a family friend who climbed a fence into the family’s backyard and entered the family’s garage Neither of which police could do without evidence of exigent circumstances The benefit of hindsight allows us to know exactly what had happened in that home but that was not information officers had at the time nor did they have any evidence to suggest the heinous act of violence that we now know had taken place Nothing to suggest that this could have been anything more than adults’ choosing to not check in with their families for a few days Cases such as this remind us of the challenges officers face in serving and protecting We are grateful for their hard work and for their efforts to process and investigate what has been a very difficult and heartbreaking case for everyone involved Sha Reh has since been released from the hospital and is expected to enroll in the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind due to new vision loss from his injury that prevents him from seeing clearly Have you experienced something you think just isn’t right Submit your tip at investigates@ksl.com or 385-707-6153 so we can get working for you Under President Taylor Randall's leadership, the University of Utah strives to become a top 10 public university with a focus on societal impact. U West Valley—a partnership between the U and the West Valley community—is key to realizing this vision U West Valley represents a fundamental shift in how we approach health care and education Our goal is to make the University of Utah more accessible Through ongoing collaboration with residents we will build a medical campus that addresses West Valley's unique needs and enhances quality of life West Valley is home to a culturally rich and diverse population residents face significant barriers to accessing health care Building a medical campus in West Valley is more than meeting the growing demand for care The project will also create nearly 2,000 jobs and boost the local economy Our approach is deeply rooted in collaboration with the people of West Valley. Since 2021, in partnership with University Neighborhood Partners we have held more than 150 community meetings and engaged nearly 300 residents and leaders.  With the support of the Westside Community United committee, West Valley Steering Committee, and the West Valley mentorship program we have gathered vital insights to ensure the hospital and health center reflect West Valley's identity and values.  Community input ensures the University of Utah West Valley Hospital and Health Center will be a place for health care Like many major hospital projects across the country the West Valley medical complex has faced its share of fiscal constraints Cost assessments have required us to pause and reevaluate the project thanks to $400 million in additional bonding authority from the Utah State Legislature The bonding and ongoing fundraising efforts allow us to move forward with renewed energy West Valley remains the university’s number one fundraising priority and we are making great progress toward our $200 million fundraising goal Meetings with donors have been promising and we are close to announcing a lead donor for the project The project is progressing with a clear understanding of the cost The confirmed site—located at 3750 South and 5600 West—will be developed in two phases: U West Valley is not just about new buildings; it’s about creating opportunities for learning, employment, and boosting the local economy. Through our partnership with Proxima Careers more than 150 students are on education pathways that will lead to jobs in health care The “Earn and Learn” Health Sciences program provides traditional and nontraditional learners with the opportunity to begin or advance their careers in health care In collaboration with the Sorenson Impact Institute we are exploring economic impact strategies focused on investment and financial inclusion for West Valley residents These initiatives—along with expanded health services at U of U Health’s Redwood Health Center, Population Health Center near Rose Park, South Main Clinic, and West High School Clinic—are breaking barriers to health care access Annual events like Healthy Start West Valley and Imagine U Day further connect students and residents to academic programs and essential health services We are on the brink of an exciting new chapter for West Valley With groundbreaking for the new medical campus on the horizon we are thrilled about the future and positive changes that lie ahead Through deep collaboration and shared vision and economic opportunity in this vibrant community Gina Hawley is chief operating officer for University of Utah Health Hospitals & Clinics Hawley is responsible for operations and execution of key strategies across the health system she was the vice president of Professional and Support Services at Oregon Health and Science University She received an MHA from the University of Minnesota and a DrPH in Health Management and Leadership from Johns Hopkins University CRIME 9:37 PM | Updated: Apr 28 BY DEBBIE WORTHEN WEST VALLEY CITY — Residents witnessed a nerve-wracking police pursuit which ended with one man barging into a family home near 5400 South and 4500 West showcasing the fugitives’ desperate attempt to evade the law The Utah Department of Public Safety’s helicopter captured the chaotic chase as two serial offenders fled their vehicle and sprinted through neighborhoods They vaulted over fences and dashed through backyards with Padilla-Garza even risking crossing the bustling 5400 South on foot The chase led Padilla-Garza to the backyard of Tina Rodriquez She soon found herself face-to-face with the Padilla-Garza as law enforcement closed in “My son came running down the stairs and said a criminal had just jumped the fence,” Rodriquez recounted police arrived and apprehended Padilla-Garza The quick response from law enforcement left the family shaken but grateful for their decisive action Both people who police say were fleeing in the case now face multiple felony charges Rodriquez reflected on the surreal experience expressing relief that the situation didn’t escalate further “We’re a little shaken up right now but I’m so thankful for the fast response of the police,” she said “It could have been much worse.” The incident serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of crime and the unwavering efforts of law enforcement to ensure public safety 10:33 PM | Updated: Mar 26 BY DEVIN OLDROYD SALT LAKE CITY — A fisherman found human remains while fishing at a pond in West Valley on Tuesday night someone fishing near 4220 West Lake Park Boulevard reported seeing a human skull in the pond just after 7 p.m “He was right,” said West Valley City Police Lt “He found a human skull that was floating in the water The detectives in turn called the medical examiner’s office.” Merritt said detectives recovered a handful of different human bones it could be difficult to figure out who the bones belong to 10:40 AM | Updated: Mar 4 BY TAMARA VAIFANUA WEST VALLEY CITY — Looking to add a new member to your family A “pawsitively” perfect adoption event might be able to help West Valley City hosted an event Saturday because its shelter is usually closed on the weekends the adoption event was held on a weekend to encourage more people to come out Organizers are hoping to host another in the near future the animals can be visited every weekday from 11 a.m adoptions can be made at the shelter from 1 p.m It currently is near its capacity and is eager to help the animals find a forever home For more information, click here. A West Valley City bowling alley is dealing with extensive flooding after a toilet pipe was ripped out of the wall Friday night causing water to pour through the building Utah (KUTV) — A West Valley City bowling alley is dealing with extensive flooding after a toilet pipe was ripped out of the wall Friday night Video shows a group of people entered All Star Bowling and Entertainment at Valley Fair Mall Friday night “[They] went straight to the bathroom [and] decided to pull the pipe off the back of the toilet,” said General Manager Dusty Wareing Surveillance footage shows the group leaving the restroom moments before water starts flooding out of the bathroom Another video shows water spewing out of a wall pipe with part of the toilet missing Police have not identified the individuals involved It’s unclear whether any of them are minors Although Wareing wasn’t there Friday night security footage shows his employees walking through the water as it spread throughout the facility “They said it’s like 200 gallons per minute that comes out of that so it didn’t take long to pretty much flood the whole building,” Wareing said Restoration crews initially placed more than 70 fans throughout the facility to dry it out Some gaming machines are still out of order and part of a wall had to be cut out to air out the space “We’re still trying to put everything back together and trying to dry the place out,” Wareing said The damage forced the bowling alley to close last Friday and Wareing said the vandalism has had an impact on the business “We had a lot of guests in here on a Friday night — we’re slammed — and we basically had to send [them] out,” Wareing said “We had to refund those bowling up on their lanes.” West Valley City Police confirm they received a report of the incident and are investigating Officers are working to identify the individuals involved “It’s definitely not a joke — it’s serious The fans will likely need to stay on for at least the rest of the week Wareing said it’s too early to know for sure how much the restoration will cost FILE - A West Valley City Police Department squad car BY MICHAEL HOUCK WEST VALLEY CITY — A man is suspected of pointing his gun at the back of a teenager’s head and firing a round while the teen was fighting another juvenile was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on suspicion of aggravated assault which included Medina-Villa and several other juveniles got into an argument while inside a McDonalds near 3500 W Police said the two juveniles fell down to the ground during the fight That’s when Medina-Villa “removed a handgun from his waistband pointed the firearm at the back of the head of one of the juveniles from the other ground and fired a round missing the juvenile,” according to the affidavit Medina-Villa then pointed the gun in the air as people began to run away and fired more shots The shooting caused two nearby schools to be placed in SECURE protocol. — WVC Police (@WVCPD) March 4, 2025 Police identified Medina-Villa as one of the suspects and took him into custody for further questioning Medina-Villa told police that his friend agreed to fight another juvenile at the McDonalds Medina-Villa thought he saw “somebody with a knife so he produced his firearm and fired off the rounds,” the affidavit stated “He pointed the firearm at the juvenile Medina-Villa told police after the shooting he gave the handgun to a friend to get rid of it no other witnesses mentioned seeing a knife during the fight The affidavit stated that Medina-Villa should not be released on bail due to not living in a “stable house … and is living with friends.” Several documented gang members were also involved in this shooting Follow @KSLMichaelHouck Utah (KUTV) — Five family members were found dead inside a West Valley home including both parents and three children under the age of 11 A 17-year-old boy was also found injured but alive Officers were called out to the home on Oxford Way Tuesday afternoon Deputy communications director Roxeanne Vainuku with the West Valley City Police Department said they first became aware of the family Monday Vainuku said a family member called them concerned that the 38-year-old woman who lived at the house had not been reachable for several days where they looked through the windows and spoke with neighbors She said there was no indication of a problem or that a crime had been committed The family member became concerned again after the woman failed to show up for work Tuesday Officials said the woman went back out to the and entered through the garage That’s where she found a 17-year-old boy who appeared injured they found the teen was alive and suffering from a gunshot wound Vainuku said they found the 38-year-old woman She said all six people were family members who lived at the home Vainuku also said they believed the incident was contained within the home Investigators did not yet know who was responsible for the deaths Vainuku said officers had to wait on a search warrant to go back into the home to process the scene and gather evidence they wouldn’t have a lot of information about exactly what happened or the identity of the suspect “When we get called out to a situation like this and we enter the home the initial officers who respond to this enter the home and see that there are deceased people inside,” she said “They very quickly ensure that there’s no one else in the home who might need assistance and that there are no suspects inside.. and then they pull back out of the home and wait for a search warrant.” Officials were not sure exactly when they would be able to enter the home again then our detectives will be able to get back inside the house start really looking around and start gathering some evidence.. and help tell us more about exactly what happened we want to make sure that we do the most absolute thorough job possible so that we can bring justice to the victims,” Vainuku said Investigators were able to get a search warrant just before 8 p.m officers were speaking with neighbors to gather as much information and insight into the family and what may have happened Officers were also looking for possible doorbell video showing when the family may have last come and go from the house gathering as much information and evidence as they could “We do not believe there’s a suspect on the loose that this is isolated to this home,” she said “Once we get into the home we’re going to learn a lot more.” The road was closed while police conducted their investigation 10:25 PM | Updated: 11:19 pm Arlington Park Drive after a shelter-in-place order was issued WEST VALLEY CITY — A shelter-in-place order was issued Saturday night to residents near 4715 S A spokesperson with the US Marshall Office confirmed to KSL TV that there is an active investigation in West Valley City involving a wanted “fugitive.” Traffic cameras show police cars blocking off traffic at the intersection of 4715 S The spokesperson told KSL TV that police would be in the area most of the night they can call the West Valley City Police Department at 801-840-4000 A traffic camera showing a police car blocking off the road on 4715 S This is a breaking news story and it may be updated Utah — The Eccles Foundation and University of Utah Health have announced plans to build a new hospital serving the west side of the Salt Lake Valley and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation is making the 800,000 square foot hospital happen The facility will be located on 22 acres of land near 3700 South and 5600 West in West Valley City the largest in the history of our foundation," said philanthropist Spence Eccles at an event on Tuesday announcing the donation It will be the University of Utah's first hospital not on the mountain in Salt Lake City U Health will also be able to shift a lot of its medical student resources toward the new hospital expanding its offerings beyond clinics and providing at least 2,000 new jobs for the West Valley City area west-side residents drive more than 12 million miles a year to get the university's services on the east side of the Salt Lake Valley West Valley City Mayor Karen Lang told FOX 13 News she is one of those So they’re a 20 to 25 minute drive," she said adding that the hospital will be a huge benefit for West Valley City and surrounding communities There are significant disparities between the east side and west side that University of Utah Health hopes to help address At Tuesday's announcement were members of Westside Community United a citizen-led group that has been pushing for better health care access Nancy Drozdek became emotional as she described the benefits of having a hospital nearby."This is so monumental and so emotionally amazing for us to have this over on the west side," she told FOX 13 News Members of the group said they have experienced differences in health care especially coming from a majority minority community like West Valley City "I do think there are some prejudices and stereotypes within treatment when I’ve gone out of the west side," said Wil Lastre The new hospital is expected to open in 2029 VIDEO BELOW: Katie Eccles Burnett and Lisa Eccles speak with FOX 13's Bob Evans about the family's philanthropy 4:35 PM | Updated: Jan 9 BY ALTON BARNHART AND MICHAEL HOUCK, KSL TV WEST VALLEY CITY — The son who was seriously injured in a family homicide in December survived and is prepared to be released from the hospital soon 18-year-old Sha Reh has been recovering from a gunshot wound to the head as faculty members from Granger High School came to visit him Sha Reh has progressed from the shock trauma unit at IMC to a regular hospital room to now being in rehabilitation,” the extended family said in a statement The gunshot wound comes from the West Valley City homicide that occurred in mid-December claiming the lives of his four family members Investigators believe the homicide was conducted by Sha Reh’s father Sha Reh is expected to make a full recovery making this moment one of the “most fabulous miracles of the season,” according to the Facebook post “He’s strong and he gives me strength by watching that It’s certainly not anything that he would want but I’m very proud of the kind of person he is because of this and how he’s responded to this,” said Granger High School Principal Tyler Howe Sha Reh is unable to remember the events that happened when his family was killed “While Sha Reh cannot remember the tragic events of that December night his short and long-term memory have improved significantly since first being hospitalized He has made tremendous progress with the physical and speech therapies offered to him by professionals,” the family said the family said Sha Reh is experiencing “new vision loss,” which prevents him from being able to see clearly he can discern when a room is light or dark but such episodes are sporadic and inconsistent,” the family said said they’re hoping for a miracle with his vision Schmidt has been heavily involved in Sha Reh’s recovery along with another family friend Bridget Harding But by many tender mercies he was able to pull out of that head space and reset and look forward to the future with faith and a desire to figure things out,” Schmidt said but he is hopeful and pressing forward with faith and love.” We are learning so much about how to care for our friend and his extended family to meet his and their many needs as they surface,” Harding said Sha Reh is expected to enroll in the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind A *GoFundMe has been created to help support Sha Reh. *KSL TV does not assure that the money deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries you should consult your own advisors and otherwise proceed at your own risk Utah — A car crashed into an apartment building Friday evening in West Valley City The West Valley City Police Department said officers and fire crews were called to the building in the Decker Lake area They said a 1999 Toyota Camry crashed into a basement apartment The fire department deemed the unit "uninhabitable" after the incident The driver allegedly fled on foot and was still not found as of Saturday afternoon WVCFD said it was able to safely remove the car from the structure with their hazmat and tech rescue teams along with the building inspector and Enbridge Gas Company (Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Eric Rojas pours a Swede Alley Nitro Stout from Top of Main at Squatters in West Valley City on Monday Para leer este artículo en español, haz clic aquí. People who live on the west side of Salt Lake County now have a brewpub close by, in a majority-minority city that is Utah’s second most populous opened to the public Monday and was scheduled to hold a ribbon-cutting Tuesday located in the northwest corner of the Valley Fair Mall complex was previously a TGI Fridays and had sat vacant for years (Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Squatters in West Valley City on Monday Rick Seven, brand and marketing manager for Salt Lake Brewing Co. — which owns Squatters Corner Pub and Squatters Pub Brewery downtown, along with six other restaurants and two breweries — said West Valley City is underserved when it comes to brewpubs. “There’s really no brewpubs or breweries west of I-215,” Seven said. “Everything seems to be downtown, and in that south corridor off of [Interstate 15], and a little bit on the east side, but nothing out west. So we thought this was an ideal location.” Technically, Uinta Brewing Company is just west of the interstate. Seven said the spot is ideal for Squatters, since there are residential areas, government buildings and local businesses nearby, as well as a hotel and the Maverik Center. TRAX also runs along Constitution Boulevard, and West Valley Central Station is across the street. Salt Lake Brewing Co. considered expanding into Lehi, in the Silicon Slopes area, Seven said, but the company purposefully chose West Valley City for its population size and diversity. In addition to welcoming West Valley City dwellers, Squatters Corner Pub will also serve the people of Tooele, Taylorsville, South Salt Lake and West Jordan, he said. (Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Squatters in West Valley City on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. Squatters Corner Pub has a restaurant license, not a bar license, which means families will be able to bring their kids inside certain areas. The brewpub will also have a patio and a small retail section. In the bar section of the brewpub, complete with large TVs, there is a large board that displays which beers are being poured. It features beers from Salt Lake Brewing Co. Brewery, next door to Squatters, and Top of Main Brewery in Park City, with locally tied varieties like the Dog Lake pale ale, and the Swede Alley nitro stout. One tap, called the Brewer’s Batch, will be reserved for Squatters beers. Seven said the food menu at Squatters Corner Pub will be nearly identical to the menu at Squatters downtown, featuring appetizers, pub favorites, soups, salads, burgers, pizza, sandwiches and the Thai yellow curry, which has been on the menu since 1989. Firefighters work to put out a house fire that rendered a house uninhabitable on Tuesday BY JACOB FREEMAN WEST VALLEY CITY — A house fire in West Valley City on Tuesday morning left a house uninhabitable killed a dog and caused approximately $350,000 in damages Battalion Chief Scott Hall with the West Valley City Fire Department said fire crews responded to reports of a house fire at 3566 West Christy Avenue at 10:30 a.m they saw heavy smoke and flames on the roof and out back of the house Crews were able to get the fire under control in just 20 minutes “It’s suspected (the fire) started outside of the home but spread to the home after a door was opened A definitive cause is still under investigation,” the fire department said Officials said strong winds also likely fanned the flames “This is a good reminder to keep doors closed during a fire to stop flames from spreading,” the fire department said 7:31 PM | Updated: Apr 16 BY DANIEL WOODRUFF MAGNA — A Utah mother is speaking out about her son’s unlikely recovery from a shooting Grethel Garcia-Vega’s son, Abraham, was shot 14 times at a party last month in West Valley City Prosecutors said it was “pure luck” neither victim was killed but Garcia-Vega believes it was something more than that But leave him so he could be like a witness…that you exist,” Garcia-Vega said With her son now recovering from his injuries at home in Magna Garcia-Vega said her 22-year-old son Abraham – who asked KSL TV not to identify him by his full name or show his face for fear of retaliation – was at a family get-together on March 23 near 3000 S Grethel Garcia-Vega speaks with KSL TV at her home in Magna “They were all drinking,” Garcia-Vega said “and the guy got aggressive and started fighting and my son started fighting with him as well.” Prosecutors said another man tried to break up the argument but Valentin-Alarcon pulled out a gun and shot both men prosecutors said Valentin-Alarcon followed Abraham and “kept shooting.” Valentin-Alarcon even “came over to [Abraham] and asked him if he was good” before shooting him again in the stomach Garcia-Vega wept as she described her feelings about what happened She was initially told her son was shot twice Garcia-Vega spoke to a nurse and learned the truth your son got shot 14 times,” Garcia-Vega remembered Valentin-Alarcon is in the Salt Lake County Jail charged with three felonies including discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury and possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person The suspect has a history of violent crime He was convicted in 2020 of felony aggravated assault in a domestic violence incident that happened in front of a child Valentin-Alarcon was convicted of a felony charge of possessing a dangerous weapon by a restricted person A past progress report from Utah Adult Probation and Parole described Valentin-Alarcon’s criminal history as “high” and noted he “performed terribly while on probation and has been in and out of jail the entire time.” Osue Valentin-Alarcon is pictured in a 2023 Salt Lake County Jail booking photo Valentin-Alarcon was arrested again in February 2023 on a weapons charge and was eventually incarcerated in a federal prison in Colorado according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons Valentin-Alarcon is currently on a no-bail hold and is due in court May 12 for a detention hearing I want him to stay in jail to complete his sentence (and) get help,” Garcia-Vega said “I don’t hate him because thank God my son is alive but I don’t want him out in the streets where he could do this to anybody else.” Garcia-Vega added her son is not a gang member but is a father of two children who can’t work for a while. Meanwhile, they are facing mounting medical bills from this ordeal. A GoFundMe has been set up to help raise money for Abraham and his family Follow @danielmwoodruff were found dead in a West Valley City home on Tuesday in what police are calling a homicide The bodies were found inside a house at 3761 S according to West Valley police spokeswoman Roxeanne Vainuku A family member who was in contact with a woman who lived at the home called police after she was unable to reach the woman for several days Police tried to make contact with the woman on Monday night at the home Officers at that time found no evidence that indicated an emergency or crime had occurred so the family member entered the house through the garage where she found an injured 17-year-old boy and they arrived and found the boy in the garage with a gunshot wound The teenager was taken to a hospital with significant injuries officers found the bodies of a 42-year-old man Police said the five people inside the home and the boy in the garage were all part of the same family and lived in that home it is uncertain if the teenager in the hospital is a suspect or victim Officers obtained a search warrant and are now investigating the home to try to figure out what happened Police believe this was an isolated incident at the home and that there are no suspects on the loose Neighbors said it happened on a quiet street and that the family kept to themselves The family who lives next door said they started to worry when the dog hadn't been fed in a few days I can't believe this happened," Michael Webster said He said nothing like this has ever happened on his street before Tristan Williams said he never imagined a crime so severe would occur so close to his home "You don't really realize how real the world can be until it's like close to home," he said WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah (KUTV) — West Valley City police provided an update after a family of six was found shot in their home, all of them dead except for a teenager The teen was discovered in the garage Tuesday when a concerned family member entered the home after being unable to make contact with anyone for several days and 11 - and their parents - a 42-year-old man and 38-year-old woman - were all found dead in various rooms of the home deputy communications director for West Valley City said investigators believe the father shot each of his family members before turning the gun on himself A "small handgun" was discovered under his body at the scene of the crime the investigation is still underway and autopsies have yet to be completed to determine if the cause of death for five of the six family members was from being shot Vainuku said it's believed the teen boy was shot inside the home It's not known when the shooting happened Vainuku said it's believed to have occurred sometime over the weekend so it's not clear how long the teen had been attempting to get out of the home Authorities did not confirm that the boy had been shot in the head but Vainuku did note that the nature of his severe brain injury would be a good indicator of where the bullet struck the teen The extent of that injury was unknown on Wednesday It wasn't clear if he'd was expected to be in a condition to speak with investigators or if the boy's injuries would have a permanent There have been no domestic violence calls to the home Police are not releasing the the individuals' identities publicly yet as they work to ensure their family has been properly notified Vainuku asked media that had independently confirmed the family members' names to not report them until their next of kin has been contacted If you or a loved one are in immediate danger Utah — The identities of the four West Valley City victims including three young children allegedly killed by their father earlier this week have been released Police have provided the names of the four victims and the suspect: A 17-year-old boy who was also shot is no longer in critical condition but stable with a severe brain injury after being shot in the head Police added the boy is currently not communicative and is unable to share any information about what occurred Police said a small handgun was discovered under the body of Dae Reh inside the West Valley City home where all five members of the family were found dead Tuesday FULL VIDEO: Police give briefing with new info on family found dead in home: West Valley City Police said they received a call from a concerned family member of a woman who lived on the 3700 block of Oxford Way on Monday Officers responded and tried to contact the residents officers looked through windows and found no obvious signs of an emergency or crime When the same woman didn't show up for work on Tuesday the family member then went to the woman's house and entered through the garage where they found a 17-year-old boy who was injured from a gunshot wound Neighbor Cindy Lewis shares what she knew about family found dead inside home: where they discovered five people deceased a police spokesperson said the shooting is thought to have happened over the weekend but that neighbors had not heard any gunshots The spokesperson added that there had been no previous domestic violence reports at the home and no note was found inside after the shooting "We understand how frustrating it is for an incident of this magnitude to happen and to not understand why but the truth is we may never know," said spokesperson Roxanne Vainuku Scanner traffic below shows dispatch to house where family discovered: Kristina Ree and Nyay Meh were discovered in one bedroom on the upper level of the home while Dae Reh and Boe Rehwere found in the living room That is where police found the handgun under Dae Reh's body "A tragedy of this magnitude is hard to comprehend for anyone and it's certainly hard for folks in our police department to comprehend," added Vainuku "It's certainly hard for our city officials to comprehend and certainly hard for our community to comprehend "But if there's one thing I know about West Valley City This is a community that works together and so my expectation would be that just as West Valley City folks do that they will rally around and that they'll support the folks who are left grieving." who has lived in the neighborhood since 1973 He said he would see the family outside backing out of their driveway once in a while Webster said he believes the family had been living in the home for about three or four years and kept to themselves for the most part How do police approach investigations following horrific crimes He said the neighborhood has mostly been a quiet place which is why he was shocked to see something like this happen but to happen here — I guess it could happen anywhere," said Webster I don't know how anybody could do anything like that Twenty-one-year-old Tristan Williams has lived nearby for the past year-and-a-half to two years "That definitely hits a spot in my heart for me for sure." his girlfriend and her family were safe after something like this happened so close to where they live WVCPD said all six people were family and all lived in the house officials did say they don't believe there is a suspect on the loose and they believe the incident was "isolated" to the home at this point in the investigation "This is far beyond anything routine," Vainuku said Tuesday "There were four [homicides] in this city for the entire year of 2024 West Valley City Police said they obtained a search warrant for the home and investigators were inside beginning their investigation They said officers have also been canvassing the neighborhood gathering any information and video evidence that may be available Resources for domestic violence victims/prevention (free SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — A driver who reportedly fled the scene of a fatal hit-and-run auto-pedestrian crash in West Valley City returned to the intersection where it happened after pulling over less than two miles down the road and calling a family member reportedly pulled into a parking lot after hitting an unidentified pedestrian who was crossing busy 3500 South at a crosswalk although he was at a marked crossing location the man entered the street against a red light the sun had already set and the man was wearing dark-colored clothing The initial crash happened Sunday shortly after 8 p.m at the intersection of 3500 South and 1940 West attempted to cross the busy street and was struck and killed in the process The incident prompted multiple witnesses to call 911 The victim was not carrying a driver's license or any other cards or documents with his name on them and investigators hadn't positively identified him as of the most recent update from police Investigators obtained surveillance footage from a gas station at the intersection Brinton was among those who viewed the footage which showed the man may have been at a marked crosswalk but appeared not to have had the right-of-way "It does appear that the male individual who is deceased was walking in the crosswalk but it does appear against the traffic signal," Brinton said "So he didn't have the right-of-way It appears traffic was flowing freely east and westbound That individual crossed from south to north The probable cause statement noted that "Toilyn did not see the male in the crosswalk and crashed into the male with the passenger side of her car." Multiple witnesses on scene were able to provide vehicle information The suspect car was found about 30 - 45 minutes later in a retail plaza parking about 1.6 miles away with the passenger side windshield crushed inward and dent just above the grill presumably where the car struck the pedestrian Rascon had pulled into the parking lot and called her sister and transported her back to the scene of the collision where Rascon admitted she was behind the wheel when the man walked into oncoming traffic She was taken to the WVCPD station for questioning and later arrested for failing to remain at the scene Information on why she initially left the scene wasn't immediately shared though the probable cause statement also included a recommended charge related to a denied driver's license Brinton said what he saw on surveillance footage was "kind of disturbing "And to be able to watch that on the video and see that happen and we owe it to this individual to kind of find out what happen and piece things together." Rascon was ultimately booked into the Salt Lake County Jail just after 2:30 a.m Monday on suspicion of third-degree felony failure to remain at a crash involving death and suspicion of Class C misdemeanor driving on a denied license a judge ordered she be released on her own recognizance No additional information on the case had been shared as of the most recent update time on this article