Police say gang activity triggered a barrage of weekend gunfire at a West Valley City apartment that left two men dead.
Three suspects were arrested a short time after the shootings following a chase with police that stretched through two cities.Police arrived at the at 3841 W. Rockwood Way (3390 South) about 9:30 p.m. Sunday after receiving a 911 call of shots being fired.
Michael C. Allgier, 18, was found dead at the scene with one gunshot wound to the head, said West Valley Police Chief Dennis Nordfelt.
A resident of the apartment, 23-year-old Derek Shaw, also suffered a gunshot wound to the head and another in the leg. He was flown to LDS hospital where he died Monday, said Nordfelt.
Witnesses were able to give officers a description of the shooting suspects and the alleged getaway car.
A West Valley K-9 police officer driving on Bangerter Highway near 2700 South spotted a white Saturn car matching the vehicle description and attempted a traffic stop, said Nordfelt.
The driver apparently ignored the K-9 officer and sped away - prompting a three-car chase that weaved through traffic on Bangerter Highway, moved east on 2100 South, turned north on I-15 and finally stretched through the westside streets of Salt Lake City.
"The speeds on the highways sometimes got over 100 mph," said Nordfelt.
The pursuit ended when the suspect car ran off the road and slammed into a tree near 900 West and 1000 South.
The driver, 18-year-old Phillip Leishmann of Salt Lake City, jumped out of the car and ran off, said Nordfelt. He was nabbed moments later by police.
The car's two passengers, Kenny Kandt, 19, Salt Lake City, and a 14-year-old boy from West Jordan remained in the car and were taken into custody without incident.
None of the occupants were injured in the accident.
After being questioned by detectives, Leishmann and Kandt were arrested for investigation of murder and booked into the Salt Lake County Jail. The teenager was taken to youth detention on a court order not related to Sunday's shootings, said Nordfelt.
The motive behind the slayings is still being examined, "but it does appear to be gang-related," said Nordfelt.
Meanwhile, the investigation continues.
"We do have some evidence that others may be involved," said Nordfelt.
Sunday's double slaying matches West Valley City's 1996 homicide total. The city had four murders in 1995.