Man shot over fishing dispute?

MIDVALE — A man who was cleaning fish in his backyard was shot multiple times by a man whom he had an ongoing dispute with, police said.

The victim remained hospitalized in serious condition Wednesday.

Just after 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, a family was outside their home near 800 West and 7850 South when a man drove up and exchanged words with the 34-year-old victim.

"Something about a fishing trip," said Midvale Police Sgt. John Salazar.

The two men reportedly had another confrontation in July. At that time, the roles were reversed and the victim in Tuesday's incident was the attacker in the July incident, throwing rocks and fists at the other man, Salazar said.

The aggressor Tuesday night initially appeared to be content on leaving without anyone being hurt. But after he began to drive away, the man made a U-turn, got out of his truck, approached the victim who was on his knees cleaning fish and shot him twice in the left leg, Salazar said. One of the bullets went through his left leg and lodged into his right leg.

Police were looking Wednesday for Ofilio Morales, 36. The victim was able to identify the handgun allegedly used, because Morales had brandished a black handgun at him in the past, Salazar said.

Whether the shooting was actually the result of an disagreement over fishing was still being investigated.

"We don't know if it's retaliation or an ongoing feud," he said.

— Pat Reavy