Latest news with #UtahDepartmentofPublicSafety
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Utah lawmakers briefed on ‘No Kings' shooting in SLC, their security after Minnesota shootings
Police respond after a man was shot during the 'No Kings' protest in Salt Lake City on Saturday, June 14, 2025. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch) Top law enforcement officials briefed Utah lawmakers during closed-door caucus meetings on Wednesday about the shooting during the 'No Kings' protest in Salt Lake City on Saturday which saw a bystander marching in the protest shot and killed by a security volunteer. Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Jess Anderson and Salt Lake City Police Brian Redd met separately with both Republican and Democratic caucuses at the Utah Capitol. House Speaker Mike Schultz, R-Hooper, told reporters during a media availability that Anderson and Redd didn't share many details. 'Honestly, we don't really know any of the details,' Schultz said. '(Anderson and Redd) can't share any details, because it's an ongoing investigation.' Schultz, however, said he's confident the investigation will be 'treated fairly' and provide answers to questions that 'a lot of us have.' The speaker also said he's 'really proud of the way Salt Lake City and the state of Utah came together to make sure there wasn't violence' during the rest of the protest. 'I'm proud of the organizers of the protest, that was important to them, that they didn't have violence,' the House speaker said. 'And I really felt like overall things were pretty good. There is that one incident that's sad, and we certainly condone any type of violence.' Man dies after being shot in chaotic scene at Salt Lake City's 'No Kings' protest Schultz added that lawmakers will be reflecting on the facts of the investigation when it's finished. 'We look forward to getting more information as it becomes available, and we'll sift through what went wrong or what are the issues,' Schultz said. According to Salt Lake City police, the shooting happened after two men described as 'peacekeepers' confronted another man, 24-year-old Arturo Gamboa, who was carrying an AR-15 style rifle during the protest. One of the 'peacekeepers' fired three shots from a handgun, grazing Gamboa but also hitting an 'innocent bystander,' Arthur Folasa Ah Loo, who was pronounced dead at a hospital. Shortly after the shooting, police arrested Gamboa, and he was booked into jail for investigation of murder. Police say, however, that Gamboa did not fire his rifle. The two 'peacekeepers,' who wore high-visability vests, were initially detained by police, but were released after being questioned. Police said the man who fired the three shots is cooperating with investigators. The protest was organized by Utah 50501, a state chapter of the 50501 Movement, a grassroots group that organizes rallies to protest actions by President Donald Trump and his administration. Organizers have expressed 'profound heartbreak' for the death of Ah Loo. In the days following the chaotic shooting, unanswered questions remain, including details of who the 'peacekeepers' were and how they were vetted, if at all, to be acting as armed security. Beloved Utah fashion designer's friends remember his life and his last moments Event organizers said people who served as 'safety volunteers' were 'selected because of their military, first responder, and other relevant de-escalation experience,' and they said when those volunteers saw Gamboa with the AR-15 style rifle, they 'believed that there was an imminent threat to the protesters and took action.' Organizers said the man who was involved in the shooting is a 'military veteran.' Questions also remain regarding Gamboa's intentions and why he brought a rifle to the protest. As of Wednesday, charges had not been filed against Gamboa or anyone else involved in the shooting. Utah is a 'constitutional carry' state, which means its laws allow the open and concealed carrying of firearms without a permit for those who are legally allowed to possess them. In 2021, with HB60, the Republican-controlled Utah Legislature eliminated the state's concealed carry permit requirements. Now, anyone 21 and over who can legally possess a gun is free to carry it loaded and hidden in public. Unlike 26 other states, Utah — a Republican-controlled state — has not adopted a law prohibiting carrying long guns at state capitols or, according to Everytown Research & Policy, an organization that produces research on gun violence and advocates for gun violence prevention. The group has ranked Utah as No. 36 in the country for 'gun law strength.' When pressed on whether lawmakers would be open to considering some type of policy to restrict the open carrying of long guns during protests, Schultz declined to say what lawmakers will or won't be willing to do, but 'I can speak from my own perspective.' 'Utah is a very proud Second Amendment state,' he said. 'Finding that balance is what we want to try to do, and I think we've done a good job with it in the past.' Schultz, however, left the door open to a discussion. 'As we enter into the legislative session and we have more details around what happened, I'm sure some of those conversations will happen and we'll see where it goes from there,' Schultz said. 'Peacekeeper' involved in shooting at SLC 'No Kings' protest is a military veteran, organizers say While Democrats typically propose various bills during each legislative session seeking tighter firearm regulations, Utah's GOP-supermajority Legislature usually doesn't let those bills progress. Schultz said 'any violence of any sort is terrible,' also pointing to the shootings of two Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses over the weekend. 'It's sad right now,' he said. 'I think it speaks a little bit to the times that we're living in.' Schultz said Anderson also briefed lawmakers on their own security, including resources available to lawmakers if they experience threats or have heightened concern. He praised the Utah Department of Public Safety for always being responsive to make sure lawmakers have protection when needed. House Majority Whip Candice Pierucci, R-Herriman, said she saw the news from Minnesota, 'I just kept thinking how we have got to find a way to turn down the heat when it comes to politics.' 'We have to get to a place where we disagree without thinking the other person is evil,' she said, adding that it was 'terrifying' that the man accused of shooting the Minnesota lawmakers had a list of names of other lawmakers. Minnesota House Democratic leader dead after 'politically motivated assassination' In the days after the Minnesota shooting, however, Utah Sen. Mike Lee drew widespread backlash for a pair of social media posts that appeared to make a joke about the suspect accused of the Minnesota shootings, claiming it was the result of 'Marxism' and attempting to connect the suspect to Gov. Tim Walz. On Tuesday, Lee deleted the posts from X. His office has not returned a request for comment about them, and he hasn't issued a public apology. Asked about Lee's posts, Schultz brushed them off, saying he doesn't spend time on X, (formerly known as Twitter). 'If I get on Twitter and look at what people say about me, it puts me in a bad mood, so I don't even get on Twitter,' he said. 'I don't think we have any comments around that. We're focused on Utah.' Pressed on whether they condemn the tweets, House Majority Leader Casey Snider, R-Paradise, said: 'you'd have to ask the senator about his tweets; he's the one that made them.' 'I'm in the same boat. I don't spend much time on social media. … you'd have to ask the senator what he said and what he meant by it,' Snider said. Sen. Mike Lee takes down controversial X posts after widespread criticism On Monday, House Democratic leaders issued a statement in the wake of the Minnesota shootings and the shooting during the Salt Lake City protest, calling them 'heartbreaking but unfortunately not surprising' while also calling for more gun regulations. 'The conditions for this kind of violence have been building for years, driven by a toxic combination of hateful rhetoric and easy access to firearms,' House Democrats said. 'That rhetoric, often amplified by leaders at the local, state, and federal levels, has created an environment that often leads to violence.' House Democrats said their Republican colleagues often argue 'guns don't kill people — people kill people.' 'Yet many of those same leaders use their platforms to target marginalized communities, spread misinformation, and stoke division,' they said. 'We urge all elected officials to reflect on the impact of their words and how they contribute to the dangerous climate we face today.' House Democrats said they 'remain committed to advancing policies that reduce gun violence, promote accountability, and protect the safety and dignity of every Utahn. We call on others to join us in that commitment.' Later Wednesday afternoon, the full Senate — while convened to vote on several judicial and cabinet appointments from Gov. Spencer Cox — held a moment of silence for the victims of violence in and outside of Utah over the weekend. Senators bowed their heads for Ah Loo, as well as for the two Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses who were shot, and the three killed during an unrelated act of violence seen in Utah over the weekend — a shooting at a carnival in West Valley City on Sunday. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Yahoo
Family, police seeking information on missing 15-year-old girl from West Jordan
WEST JORDAN, Utah () — A 15-year-old West Jordan girl has been missing for the past six days, and police and her family are seeking information that can help them find her. Sophia Rojas, 15, was last seen on June 3, and she has had absolutely no contact with her friends or family since, West Jordan Police Department said. Police also believe that she may be with an adult and lying about her age. She was last seen wearing a grey suit and pants. spoke to Sophia's family, and they shared a message: 'We just want her to come home.' She is Hispanic with dark brown eyes and black hair. She is 5'2″ tall and weighs roughly 130 pounds. West Jordan Police are asking that anyone with information about Sophia Rojas contact 801-256-2000 and reference case WJ25-27102. The Utah Department of Public Safety has a page on its website with , and you can on the website as well. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children also has resources for . Here is a list of hotlines and resources from a 2021 guidebook by the : : 800-799-7233 : 888-373-7888 : 833-872-5176 : 800-786-2929 : 800-273-8255 : 844-762-8483 Bureau of Land Management approves construction of Millard County potash mine November statewide special election for collective bargaining referendum 'not off the table,' Cox says Family, police seeking information on missing 15-year-old girl from West Jordan RSL hoping to make a run in second half of season Utah lawmakers oppose AI regulation in Trump's 'Big, beautiful bill' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
SILVER ALERT: 69-year-old woman with dementia missing in Riverton
The Silver Alert has been cancelled. RIVERTON, Utah () — Riverton Police have issued a Silver Alert for a missing woman with dementia. Antonia Zarate, 69, was reported missing around 2 p.m. Monday. Her last known location was 13392 S 2480 W in Riverton, Utah, according to officials. Police described her as a Hispanic female. She is 4 feet 7 inches tall, with brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a purple shirt and black pants. Police requested anyone with information to contact Valley Emergency Communications at (801)840-4000 or call 911. The Utah Department of Public Safety has a page on its website with , and you can on the website as well. Here is a list of hotlines and resources from a 2021 guidebook by the : : 800-799-7233 : 888-373-7888 : 833-872-5176 : 800-786-2929 : 800-273-8255 : 844-762-8483 This is a developing story. ABC4 will update this post as new information becomes available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
New York Post
29-05-2025
- New York Post
3 men investigated over missing girl, 15 — including one trying to meet her while sharing sick sex chats: affidavit
Three men are being investigated over a 15-year-old girl who vanished five weeks ago in Utah — with at least one sharing disturbing sex chats while trying to get her to meet him, according to authorities. Alisa Petrov, 15, from South Jordan, was reported missing on April 21, two days after her final message to a 41-year-old man with whom she had been having a series of sexual conversations, according to an affidavit obtained by KSL TV. 'I'M RUNNING AWAY. Please don't contact me,' Petrov wrote on April 19 at 12:34 a.m. in a message to the unnamed man from Herriman, Utah, whom she met on Discord, the report said. Advertisement Their chats had become increasingly sexual, including discussions about condoms and sex games, as well as planning to meet in person, according to the affidavit. 4 Missing Utah girl Alisa Petrov, 15, hasn't been seen since last month. Utah Department of Public Safety The man has not yet been charged, but the unsealed search warrant outlines probable cause for a search of his home and phone, citing evidence of possible enticement and exploitation of a minor, KSL reports. Advertisement Messages were discovered on Petrov's iPad, which she left behind in her bedroom. She had shared her Snapchat username with him, and some messages may have been deleted, according to the warrant. 4 The teen sent an eerie message to a man she had been communicating with just before she disappeared. Facebook / Nikolai Petrov 4 William Taylor Glines is one of three men being investigated over Petrov's disappearance. Galveson County Jail Advertisement Two other men have been charged already over Petrov's disappearance. William Taylor Glines, 37, is in custody in Texas, while a second suspect, Matthew Nicholas Menard, 35, of Florida, still hadn't been located as of Wednesday. 4 Anyone with information regarding Petrov's disappearance is urged to contact South Jordan Police Department. Utah Department of Public Safety Petrov is classed as a runaway juvenile who is endangered. Her family has offered a $20,000 reward for any information leading to her safe return.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Yahoo
The importance of older adults always wearing a seat belt
The Utah Department of Public Safety will be kicking off its 'Click It or Ticket' campaign later this month, emphasizing proper use of seat belts as Utahns begin the busy summer travel season. 'We're trying to educate on the crash trends that we're seeing and so that people can make behavioral changes to help keep themselves safe,' said Utah Highway Patrol Lt. Cameron Roden. And while it is important for everyone to wear their seat belts, crashes involving unbuckled people are most common among two age groups — children and older adults. During the day, these incidents with unbuckled individuals are most often seen for ages 5 to 14 and 80 to 84; but at nighttime the age ranges change to 10-19 and 75-84. During Thursday's media availability at Mt. Olympus Senior Center, public safety officials invited one person from those age groups to demonstrate how to properly buckle themselves into their seats. Jacob Winkler, 7, demonstrated buckling his seat belt while sitting in a booster seat, and Mt. Olympus resident Skip Olsen helped show how to properly fit a seat belt and practiced using devices that help those who aren't able to reach their seat belt on their own. 'The rate of not using your seat belt in our older adult population has increased,' said Brooke Pohlman, a certified driver rehab specialist and occupational therapist. The 'Click It or Ticket' campaign is a part of a nationwide initiative encouraging people to always wear their seat belt. Utah has a primary seat belt law which was enacted in 2015, allowing a law enforcement officer to pull someone over for not wearing a seat belt as the primary offense. This means that they don't need another offense, just the seat belt violation. 'Our overall message is, no matter where you're going, no matter how long the trip, short trip, day or night, always wear that seat belt,' Roden said. Utah's seat belt use rate in 2024 was 90.7%, which is a decrease from 92.4% in 2023, officials said Thursday. Pohlman emphasized why wearing seatbelts is so important for older adults. 'If there are even fender benders, and, low speed accidents cause such damage to our older adults who can be frail. Sometimes our bones take longer to heal. A lot of older adults have comorbidities, and so an accident, even at low speeds, can really cause major injuries to a person in that situation that's older and maybe a little more frail, our bodies just don't heal as quickly as they did when we were younger,' she said. So far in 2025, Utah has seen 13 unrestrained fatal crashes with a total of 13 unrestrained fatalities, according to DPS. At this time last year, there were 19 unrestrained fatal crashes and 22 unrestrained fatalities. There have been 64 total fatal crashes and 64 total fatalities in the state over the first five months of 2025. Jamie Troyer, a trauma outreach coordinator from the University of Utah, shared that often times older adults don't wear seat belts because of mobility or comfortability. Mobility comes into play as some people aren't able to reach the seat belts, but there are devices that can help with that issue. Some people also don't know that they can adjust their seat belt to make it more comfortable. 'So, just ensuring that you're making sure your seat belt actually fits right, helps a lot for you to wear it more often,' Troyer said. The shoulder belt should sit across your collarbone, run down the middle of your chest and stay away from your neck. The lap belt should rest across your hips and lie below your stomach, never across your belly. Never place the shoulder belt behind your back or under your arm.
