WEST VALLEY CITY — An investigation into a shooting followed by a couple of police chases resulted in the arrests of at least two people early Friday.
One of those arrested was convicted less than a year ago in a series of crimes in Salt Lake County and sentenced less than six months ago for violating his probation, according to court records.
The series of events began just after midnight when West Valley police responded to a report of a possible shooting in the parking lot of a hotel at 3074 S. Decker Lane, said West Valley police spokeswoman Roxeanne Vainuku. At least two vehicles were leaving the scene. No shooting victim was located.
A responding officer spotted one of the vehicles and attempted to pull it over but it fled, according to a police affidavit. A short time later, a Unified police officer spotted the same vehicle in Taylorsville and the driver again fled, the affidavit states. West Jordan police spotted the vehicle a short time after that and began chasing it, according to the affidavit.
“I then heard that the vehicle had been spiked and found abandoned,” the officer wrote in his affidavit.
Inside the abandoned vehicle near 3200 West and 5100 South, police located several items with the name “Kevin Zamora” written on them, according to the affidavit. Police from several agencies set up a containment in the area surrounding the abandoned vehicle, Vainuku said.
A short time later, a vehicle was spotted trying to leave the containment area and was pulled over. Inside the car were one female and two males including Zamora, she said.
Zamora would initially not come out of the vehicle, Vainuku said. A loaded gun and a small amount of drugs were also seized from the car, she said.
“Upon further investigation, it was determined that Zamora was driving the vehicle that fled,” Vainuku said.
Zamora, 18, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of three counts of failing to stop for police.
Also arrested was Kayleb Cook, 18, who police say had driven to the area to pick up Zamora.
Zamora made headlines a year ago when he was charged in connection with a series of crimes that included aggravated robbery and nearly running over a store clerk. In September 2019 he pleaded guilty in 3rd District Court of aggravated robbery, possession of a weapon by a restricted person, failing to stop for police, discharging a firearm and causing an accident, according to court records. He was given a suspended prison sentence of 1 to 15 years, and instead ordered to serve four months in jail and be placed on two years’ probation, court records state.
In April, a warrant was issued for Zamora’s arrest for failing to comply with the terms of his probation, according to court records. He was sentenced May 18 to an additional six months in jail with credit for time served.