SOUTH SALT LAKE – A teenager who was shot and killed in South Salt Lake during an incident that left three others wounded Thursday night has been identified Friday.
The deceased is 17-year-old Armando Curiel, and two others wounded in the shooting are in critical condition while a fourth person had lesser injuries but didn’t go to a hospital until several hours later.
Police are investigating Friday after the incident, which happened sometime after 8 p.m. Thursday in South Salt Lake near 325 East Park Creeke Lane.
Detectives said the four who were shot are young men between the ages of 17 and 20 who were involved in an apparent shootout inside a Ford Explorer that had stopped on Park Creeke Lane.
“It appears that the driver put it in park, there was some kind of an altercation, gunfire erupted within this vehicle,” said Executive Officer Gary Keller of the South Salt Lake Police Department.
Multiple shots were fired at close range, and all of the occupants were hit.
Not long after police arrived, the 17-year-old was pronounced dead. He was later identified as Armando Curiel.
Two other young men, siblings ages 19 and 20, were rushed to local hospitals but the prognosis wasn't good.
"They're in extremely critical condition, and it could go either way at this time for them,” Keller said.
Police said a fourth individual, a 19-year-old, was unknown to them until several hours after the shooting.
“Number four showed up later in the evening, about 11:40 at night, at an area hospital with a gunshot wound to his leg,” Keller said.
That person was apparently taken to the hospital by a friend.
Police said one handgun was in plain sight inside the Explorer and a second gun was recovered on Park Creeke Lane.
Detectives have seized the SUV and hope it provides additional answers, in particular, if this incident was related to illegal drugs or gangs.
“We're still looking into it, we don't know what or if these individuals are affiliated with any gangs, but nevertheless a tragic situation,” Keller said.
Police hope to eventually interview the wounded parties, and they are awaiting a search warrant to go through the vehicle for evidence.
