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Six arrested after teen partially paralyzed in shooting in West Valley City

Posted at 5:51 PM, Jan 28, 2017
and last updated 2017-01-29 19:14:57-05

WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah — Police have arrested four adults and two juveniles in connection with an altercation and shooting that left a teenage boy in serious condition earlier this week.

The shooting occurred Thursday near 3300 South and 3500 West, and a 16-year-old boy suffered serious injuries. According to statements of probable cause, the boy was paralyzed from the waist down as a result of his injuries.

Police say two people are suspected of firing guns and the other four were arrested for their role in the altercation that preceded the shooting.

“We received multiple calls from citizens in the area reporting a fight and an altercation where shots had been fired, officers came into the area and found one victim laying in the road with others around him,” said Sgt. Brandon Christiansen on the day of the shooting.

Two juveniles ages 15 and 16 are in custody along with four adults. The adults arrested in the case are 19-year-old Kevin Henriquez-Chavarria, 18-year-old Gerson Mursia-Morales, 18-year-old Carlos Valentin, and 19-year-old Juan Jose Espina.

Statements of Probable Cause allege Espina was driving along with several members of the “Washington Boy” gang to meet a group of Polynesian males “in an arranged mutual fight.”

Espina allegedly stopped the car near three pedestrians and gave one of the people in the car a firearm. Two individuals in the Espina’s vehicle then fired shots into the group of pedestrians, striking the victim in the back, according to the PC statement.

Henriquez-Chavarria was in the vehicle with Espina and was allegedly one of the shooters, according to several witnesses.

Valentin-Alarcon was allegedly in one of the vehicles and knew a fight and shooting was going to occur. Murisia-Morales was allegedly driving another vehicle behind the vehicle driven by Espina and is another member of the “Washington Boy” gang.

All four adult suspects face charges that include discharge of firearms.

The victim remains in serious condition, according to an update from West Valley City Police on Saturday.