Intruder had extensive record

MIDVALE — The home intruder shot and killed here Tuesday during a home invasion was recently released from federal prison and, due to a new conviction, appeared to be on his way back to prison at the time of his death.

Wednesday, police released the name of the man shot dead by one of the tenants of The Springs of Country Woods Apartments. Blake J. Anderson, 31, was shot three times in the upper torso, said Midvale Police Sgt. John Salazar.

About 1:30 a.m. Tuesday, police say, Anderson and six to seven others forcefully entered an apartment near 1030 East and 7000 South. One victim was stabbed in the hand while trying to keep the door shut. The intruders asked for a man who did not live there, according to neighbors.

One of the occupants escaped and ran out the door. A couple of the men chased after him, firing at least three rounds outside the apartment, Salazar said. Two bullet holes remained Wednesday in the stairwell leading up to the apartment. The tenant was able to get away without injury.

Inside the apartment, another tenant got into a struggle with one of the intruders and was able to wrestle his gun away, Salazar said. Eight more shots were fired inside, striking Anderson three times.

A check of state and federal court records showed Anderson was in and out of prison a lot in recent years.

From June 2003 to June 2004, he was sentenced to the Utah State Prison. He was also taken into custody by U.S. marshals for federal court proceedings for seven months during that time. In 2003, Anderson was found guilty on a federal indictment of a felon in possession of ammunition. He was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison and 36 months of supervised release.

In 2007 Anderson's supervised release was revoked and he was sentenced to 24 more months in federal prison for violating the conditions of his release. Anderson was in possession of a firearm, according to court records. He was released the last time from federal prison in November 2008.

Another trip to prison might have been in Anderson's future. He was scheduled to be sentenced in 3rd District Court last Friday on a 2007 conviction of theft by receiving stolen property, according to state court records. A warrant was issued for his arrest when he failed to appear in court for sentencing.

Investigators are looking for six or seven more people involved in the home invasion. A motive for the invasion was not known, but detectives are looking at it possibly being a case of mistaken identity, Salazar said.

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