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West Valley police searching for suspect after shooting, high-speed chase

West Valley police are looking for a suspect with a “large distinctive tattoo on left side of forehead” after an argument turned deadly on Wednesday night.

Police arrived at 3500 S. 3030 West shortly after 9 p.m. to find Victor Manuel Garcia Jr., 26, lying half in and half out of a car. A 24-year-old woman told them that she was driving the car when her passengers, Garcia and a 24-year-old man, began to argue; Garcia hit the other man over the head with a bottle; the younger man produced a gun and shot Garcia in the abdomen.

Police began CPR on Garcia, who died after he was transported to a hospital.

The suspect ran, and police were unable to locate him despite locking down the area and bringing in dogs. He is described as a 24-year-old Hispanic male, 5-feet-6 with a slim build — and a large distinctive tattoo on left side of forehead.

The investigation resulted in a high-speed chase through Sandy, Cottonwood Heights and Midvale when police located a car that they believed the suspect may have been in, said WVCPD spokeswoman Roxanne Vainuku. The chase began about 4 a.m. near 7800 South and 900 East and ended when the car hit a curb and flattened all of its tires at 7350 S. State Street.

“The suspect may have been inside the vehicle,” Vainuku said. “But he is not in custody.”

Police took a man and a woman who were inside the car into custody; a second, unidentified man fled on foot and has not been located.

“We don't know if that was the suspect,” Vainuku said. “The officers are still investigating.”

Police have not yet released the identity of the suspect.