Man shot, 2 arrested in gang-related fight outside downtown bar

SALT LAKE CITY — A man was hospitalized with “potential life-threatening injuries” after he was shot early Saturday following a fight between about 20 people at a downtown bar.

Salt Lake police responded to reports of a shooting near 200 South and 200 East and located a man who had been shot in the abdomen. He was taken to a hospital and underwent surgery, according to a police booking affidavit.

Witnesses told police a fight broke out inside Johnny’s SLC, 165 E. 200 South, between about 20 people and then moved outside onto the sidewalk. At some point, one man in the fight pulled out a gun and fired multiple rounds, the affidavit states.

A witness “observed the male with the gun fire multiple rounds into the air and then pointed the gun to the east and fired additional rounds. The witness then observed the shooter walk in the middle of the intersection at 200 South 200 East and yell out gang references at the victim,” according to the affidavit. Police say the gunman then fled in a white SUV.

Minutes later, a Utah Highway Patrol trooper saw a vehicle nearby being driven recklessly that matched the description of the SUV.

“A traffic stop was conducted and the UHP trooper observed blood on the clothing of both the male driver and female passenger, indicating to him they had been in a fight,” the affidavit says. After obtaining a search warrant, officers reported finding a gun under the passenger seat in addition to clothing and a bag matching the description of items seen with the gunman.

The driver, Angelo Mark Garcia, 40, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of riot with a dangerous weapon, aggravated assault resulting in serious bodily injury, felony discharge of a firearm and prohibited dangerous weapon conduct. Joshua Jesus Daniel Martinez, 22, was arrested for investigation of riot.

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Read more: No injuries reported after shots fired during fight on Salt Lake City sidewalk