Authorities arrest 2 in connection with drive-by shooting of teenager

The Salt Lake Metro Gang Unit, along with Taylorsville police, arrested two men in connection with the drive-by shooting of a 15-year-old girl.

A 19-year-old man who police believe was the shooter was arrested Friday night at an undisclosed house in Taylorsville. Gang detectives had developed several leads on associates of the man, said Salt Lake County Sheriff's Sgt. Jason Johnson.

Outside the Taylorsville house, investigators showed several people a picture of the man sought in the shooting. They said he was inside, Johnson said. Police set up a containment and called the man out and he surrendered without incident, he said.

The man is accused of shooting a 15-year-old girl who was standing on her front porch near 2800 South and 700 East on June 17. The bullet went in and out of one leg and then broke the femur of the other. She was taken to the hospital that night with non-life threatening injuries.

Investigators said the incident was gang related. Johnson said it apparently had something to do with phone conversations with rival gang members made from inside the house where the shooting occurred.

Johnson said he couldn't comment on whether he believed the girl was the intended target.

Thursday night, gang detectives arrested the alleged driver in the incident.

Charges against the two were expected to be screened early this week by the Salt Lake District Attorney's Office.

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— Pat Reavy