Security guard shot at Sapp Brothers truck stop

A truck stop security guard was shot and killed Wednesday afternoon by a shopper.

The incident occurred just after 3 p.m. at Sapp Brothers, 1953 W. California Ave. The business contains a Sinclair gas station, a fast food restaurant, a 24-hour diner and parking and shower facilities for big rig drivers.

After the shooting, the unarmed guard and the shooter sat down to wait for police, according to police and witness reports.

The guard has been identified as 31-year-old Verne Walter Jenkins, of Murray.

"This is just cold-blooded," said John Walker, a trucker from Denver who watched the incident unfold from the parking lot. "The guy just sat down and watched him bleed. That's crazy."

Police arrived within minutes of the shooting and found Roger Malcolm, 51, waiting. He cooperated and was taken into custody peacefully, said Salt Lake Police spokesman Jared Wihongi. After being arrested, he became defiant and uncooperative,Wihongi said.

By about 4 p.m., police placed Malcolm in the rear of a squad car parked just to the east of the building by 4:15 p.m. Every few minutes, officers opened the door of the car to talk with the him. Malcolm could be heard yelling obscenities.

Fifteen minutes later, officers moved Malcolm to a second squad car, which then drove off.

Several witnesses to the deadly shooting were kept inside the restaurant for more than an hour. Others were transported to the Salt Lake City Police Station for further questioning, Wihongi said. Meanwhile, the business was closed.

Crime scene tape was wrapped around the handles of all the doors and also circled the rows of fuel pumps in the parking lot.

Concerned citizens milled about, trying to learn what had happened. One rumor circulating in the crowd was that the confrontation began when the suspect tried to steal a pack of gum.

"I come here all the time," said Dave Kilgrow, a Salt Lake City resident. "They have a security guard here all the time. They usually keep a pretty tight ship."

Kilgrow said the security guards were never armed. Private security guards are common at truck stops nationwide, he said.

Sapp Brothers guards spend a lot of time walking around the parking lot, ensuring no one is on the property that isn't allowed.