Two men charged after shooting at Provo protest

One man who allegedly fired a gun at a motorist during a Provo protest and another who reportedly aimed a gun at the vehicle are now facing felony charges.

Jesse Keller Taggart, 33, of Salt Lake City, has been charged in 4th District Court with attempted aggravated murder, a first-degree felony; aggravated assault and discharge of a firearm causing injury, both second-degree felonies; and rioting, a third-degree felony. Bradley Glenn Walters, 29, of Ogden, has been charged with aggravated assault and rioting, third-degree felonies.

Taggart was booked into the Utah County jail on June 30 and released on Friday after posting $32,180 bail; Walters was booked into jail on Wednesday and released a day later after posting $5,930 bail.

According to charging documents, Taggart shot and wounded the driver of an SUV during a protest on June 29.

The 60-year-old driver “attempted to proceed southbound through the intersection” of University Avenue and Center Street “that was blocked by protesters.” Police allege that Taggart “brandished” a gun and “fired into the vehicle.” The driver was wounded by the first shot “as he attempted to flee the intersection in his vehicle,” and Taggart then “fired a second round that was found lodged in the steering wheel.”

The victim was treated at Utah Valley Hospital for a bullet wound to his arm and shrapnel in his eye and stomach.

According to police, “Multiple witnesses recorded cellphone video at the time of the shooting and provided the evidence to the Provo Police Department.”

While this was happening, Walters was “recorded in the middle of the intersection” as he pulled out a “handgun and pointed it at the driver of the vehicle” while Taggart chased the SUV through the intersection and fired at it “for the second time. Bradley continued running after the vehicle while pointing his gun at the driver, until the vehicle was gone.”

Samantha Darling, 27, of Ogden, who was arrested along with Taggart and booked for investigation of obstruction of justice and rioting, had not been charged as of Tuesday morning.