Shooting in Taylorsville believed to be botched drug deal or robbery, not road rage

TAYLORSVILLE, UT — A driver suffered a gunshot wound to the back of the head during what was initially believed to be a road rage incident in Taylorsville, on Dec. 15, 2022. Sgt. Jake Hill, with Taylorsville Police Department, said the driver is in the hospital and in stable condition.

Now Taylorsville Police believe the shooting stemmed from a botched drug deal or attempted robbery.

The incident began around 1800 West and 6200 South, as the vehicles were traveling eastbound on 6200 south. Hill said witnesses reported that as drivers were traveling northbound on Redwood, the occupants of a silver SUV fired several shots out of the passenger seat window. 

TPD Sgt. Aaron Cheshire said, “He went across the other lanes of traffic. He did strike some vehicles. And you know his vehicle ended up kind of up on a ramp under I-215.”

Investigators served a search warrant on the man who was shot.

“Out of that, we found distributable amounts of narcotics and a large amount of cash. We’ve tried to talk to the victim more about it. He’s given us a little bit of information, but he’s not cooperating,” Cheshire said.

Police are still looking for the male occupants of a gray 2020-2022 GMC Arcadia SUV.

“The last information we had was just there were several male occupants, we don’t know a race, age or gender,” said Hill.

Taylorsville PD is investigating the crime at this time.

Anyone with information about the SUV is asked to please contact TVPD’s non-emergency dispatch number at 801-840-4000 and reference case #TY22-40833. 

This story will continue to be updated. 

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