Police have arrested a West Valley man in connection with the death of a Taylorsville man during a Halloween party early Saturday.
Israel Avina, 19, West Valley City, was arrested without incident at his home Saturday afternoon, said Salt Lake County Sheriff's Sgt. Jerry Townsend. He was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of two aggravated assaults.Dick Blackham Jr., 18, was waiting for his sister and girlfriend in his Bronco at 2358 W. Everett-wood Drive (6385 South) when a group of uninvited people ran through the house firing at least 20 gunshots. On their way out, the group members fired at Blackham repeatedly.
Blackham tried to drive home but collapsed at the wheel a block away. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police believe the people who raided the house were angry because they had been kicked out of the party earlier that night. A 20-year-old man was also shot in the leg and buttocks during the raid.
Police refused to release a mugshot of Avina on Monday because they were going to put him in a lineup, Townsend said. Additional arrests are expected soon.