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Man arrested for allegedly assaulting victims, killing one downtown

Posted at 7:53 AM, Jul 25, 2017
and last updated 2017-07-25 23:49:25-04

SALT LAKE CITY - Salt Lake City Police say a homeless man attacked four men near 6th West and 5th South in Salt Lake Tuesday morning, killing one.

The suspect, identified as 43-year-old Kepedro Kegler, allegedly and without reason, attacked two men underneath a bridge around 7:30. Police wouldn't confirm what he used in the attack but said it wasn't a gun or a knife. From there, police say Kegler walked a block East.

"That individual then attacked another individual, and then finally, an attack on an individual where he killed that individual," said Lt. Greg Wilking, spokesman with Salt Lake City Police.

While Police try to determine if Kegler was under the influence of drugs or alcohol during the attack, Speaker of the House, Greg Hughes, is trying to find solutions to a bigger problem.

"If that's not enough, what has to happen down there for all of us, the public, and the public servants to say lets take this problem on on a grand scale."

During an interview in the Speaker's office, Hughes said he thinks the problem has grown too big for one agency to handle on its own. He suggests county, state, or even federal agencies get involved.

"We should have enough resources, and the ability to identify every person down there and know who they are and what their intentions are," Speaker Hughes added. "Criminals will never want to be in an environment like that."

Speaker Hughes will be joined at a meeting with Salt Lake's Governor, and Salt Lake City and County's Mayors Wednesday morning. It's a meeting that's schedule to talk about the problem down town. Speaker Hughes said he plans to bring up talks about identifying each individual on a frequent if not daily basis near the road home. However, he's not laying out his entire blue print just yet. He says that will come after meeting with Utah politicians Wednesday morning.

"But I'm not looking to just talk, I am looking for a green light so we can take care of the problem."