Man shot during attempted robbery

A man who spent a night in the hospital receiving treatment for gunshot wounds this week was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail Thursday evening because authorities believe he was shot while attempting to burglarize a Holladay home.

On Wednesday evening Salt Lake City Police responded to a Sugarhouse gas station, near 2300 South and Highland Drive, after a man who had been shot at least two times had been dropped off there.

Ronald Whitelaw, 26, was rushed to the hospital in critical condition suffering from bullet wounds to the abdomen and the leg, Salt Lake County Sheriff's Lt. Don Hutson said.

Whitelaw was treated at University Hospital and was not offering information to police as to how he received the wounds, Hutson said.

On Thursday a Holladay man called the sheriff's office to report that he had fired shots at two men who were attempting to break into his home the night before, Hutson said. The homeowner told investigators that he fired multiple shots after which the two men fled the scene. The home invasion occurred at about 10:30 p.m. Police believe one of the men was in possesion of a weapon.

Whitelaw was dropped off at the gas station just before 11 p.m., Hutson said. The timing of the two events has prompted police to investigate whether Whitelaw was involved in the attempted burglary.

Whitelaw was released from the hospital Thursday evening and was immediately arrested and booked into jail for investigation of aggravated burglary, a weapons violation, and three counts of aggravated assault, Hutson said.

Police are now looking for other suspects who might have been involved in the burglary incident.

No decision has been made as to whether or not charges will be sought against the homeowner who fired the shots, as investigators continue to gather facts about the incident, according to Hutson.

"We are not disclosing where in Holladay this occurred because we are concerned about the possibility of a retaliation," Hutson said.