Gunshots, car crash, rattle Salt Lake neighborhood

SALT LAKE CITY — Gang detectives Thursday were trying to sort out a wild early-morning scenario that involved gunshots and a car crashing into a house.

Police received a call about 12:30 a.m. of shots fired in the area of 160 N. 1000 West. While officers were en route to that call, just a short time later they received a call of a car that crashed into the living area of a house at 1012 West and 600 North, said Salt Lake police detective Dennis McGowan.

The 27-year-old driver of the vehicle that crashed got out and ran, he said. Gang detectives were able to track him down. He told them he was parked in a church parking lot in the area of the first address when someone started shooting at him for an unknown reason from his backyard. He then got into his car to flee but was chased by another group. He lost control of his vehicle and crashed while trying to get away, McGowan said.

Investigators were also able to track down the group allegedly chasing the man. They told police that they spotted a man in their backyard who took off running. Those people heard two gunshots and assumed the man was firing at them, so they took off after him, McGowan said.

Police found two shell casings at the scene but had not recovered any weapons as of Thursday morning.

The driver who crashed was cited for hit and run but not booked into jail. Detectives were still sorting out Thursday who was shooting at whom.

No one was injured in the house that was shot at. The car went halfway through the structure, causing significant damage.

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