WEST VALLEY CITY — Police have identified three men arrested and accused of stabbing a man who was handing out food samples at the Valley Fair Mall Saturday.
Shawn Mckai Begay, 19; Stratford Bryan Jones, 18; and Kyler Lynn Cozad, 20; were booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of causing a riot and aggravated assault resulting in serious bodily injury.
The three men were walking inside the mall, 3601 S. 2700 West, about 4:50 p.m. Saturday when they encountered the food court worker and got into an argument with him, a Salt Lake County Jail report states.
The fight turned physical and witnesses saw all three men punch the victim multiple times, according to the report.
"As the victim attempted to defend himself, he was punched more and was ultimately stabbed in the back by the suspects," the report states. Police say he was stabbed at least five times and as many as nine times.
The man was taken to Intermountain Medical Center in critical but stable condition. Officers said Saturday his injuries were not believed to be life-threatening.
West Valley police officers arrived at the mall while the fight was happening and ordered the men to stop. The three men fled. Jones was arrested at the mall while Begay and Cozad were later arrested at a nearby apartment complex.
Police said Saturday they were investigating what prompted the fight and whether the incident was gang-related.