SALT LAKE CITY — Three separate shootings between 1 a.m. and 6 a.m. Friday led to one death and three hospitalizations, Salt Lake police said.
The first shooting, in which 23-year-old Steven McKinney was killed, is believed to have been an accident, said Salt Lake Police Sgt. Robin Snyder. She said the shooter was McKinney's friend, Ian Lewis, 23, who was handling a gun while visiting McKinney at his home at 436 N. Redwood Road. She said it appears a group of friends was talking when the gun went off, apparently accidentally, just after 1 a.m.
Snyder said police do not believe the conversation escalated in any way, and the two men were close friends. Lewis was arrested and booked for investigation of negligent homicide and has talked with police.
Snyder said police do not know who owned the gun or whether alcohol was involved in the shooting, but the investigation is continuing. Regardless, Snyder said the accident is a reminder that, when handling guns, it must be assumed that the gun could go off at any time.
"It's a good reminder that you should always treat all guns as being loaded and always assume it's loaded," she said. "You should never treat a gun like it's not loaded. This is just a tragic incident."
In the second incident, a call came in just before 6 a.m. from 1345 W. 800 South reporting a shooting with three victims, Snyder said. She said several men were gathered together for New Year's Eve when a friend of one of the men arrived and said he was involved in an altercation with about five men at another party and that those men had followed him.
Not long after, there was a knock at the door, police said. When the men opened the door, there were at least two men there, one of whom opened fire into the group, hitting three of the apartment's occupants.
Two of the men were transported to the hospital, one in critical condition and the other in serious condition.
The man in critical condition, believed to be between 20 and 30 years old, was hit in the torso and had to undergo surgery early Friday. Police reported that he was improving slightly post-surgery.
The man in serious condition was hit in the arm and transported to the hospital but has since been discharged. The third victim was only slightly grazed and didn't require hospitalization.
Police believe as many as five Hispanic men arrived at the apartment in a tan-colored vehicle. One man was around 5 feet 6 inches tall, bald and was wearing a tan shirt. The second assailant was around 6 feet tall and was described as "skinny." Snyder said police do not know at this time whether or not the incident was gang-related.
The final shooting also took place just before 6 a.m. and involved a 23-year-old man who was shot in the hand. He told police he was shot after trying to help what he thought was a stranded motorist. He said a white Saturn stopped in front of his home at 2499 S. 500 East and, believing it was broken down, he went out to help.
The police reported that an argument ensued between the two men, leading to the one man being shot in the hand. Snyder said the man drove himself to a hospital, where employees notified police. The police have no information on the assailant.
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