2 teen brothers who killed a West Valley City cop in 2016 are arrested after one of them is shot

Two brothers who pleaded guilty to running down and killing a West Valley City police officer in 2016 were stopped while speeding in a stolen car early Monday — and one of them had been shot several times. And the brother who had been wounded was wanted in connection with a separate shooting at a West Valley motel on Saturday.

West Valley police were called to the Extended Stay motel at 2310 W. City Center Court at about 3:30 a.m. Saturday after a reported shooting at a party with about 40 people in attendance. When they arrived, they “found multiple people” who were involved in the shooting “running from the hotel.” Witnesses told police a 17-year-old boy had been shot, and that someone had driven him to a hospital.

The teenager was reportedly critically wounded, but his condition was later upgraded and he is expected to survive.

There were “multiple” bullet holes in the door to the room where the shooting took place, as well as bullet holes “through the hallway” outside the room, according to police, and “several” guns were found at the scene — leading police to believe that “several” people fired guns at each other.

Police said they learned that Lawrence Boggs, 17, had gone to the hotel to visit someone when he “encountered a group of people … and an argument occurred.” Boggs then “reportedly invited his own associates to come to the hotel,” and “a fight with the rival group broke out that led to the gunfire.” Only the one teenager was wounded.

“Gang involvement is suspected,” according to a news release from the West Valley Police Department.

Lawrence Boggs was found Monday after he was wounded in a separate shooting. Responding to a report of gunfire in the area of 900 South and 1400 West at about 3 a.m., Salt Lake City police found a handgun, a bullet and blood in the road. At about the same time, West Valley police spotted a stolen car that was speeding at more than 100 mph near 3100 S. Redwood Road. Officers pulled the car over at 2830 W. 3500 South, and discovered the car’s back window appeared to have been shot out and Boggs was inside the car. He had been shot several times in the torso.

Boggs was taken to a hospital, where he underwent surgery for his wounds. He is expected to recover.

According to police, Christopher Boggs, 18, was driving the stolen car with his brother, another 17-year-old and a 14-year-old inside.

The Boggs brothers were two of three teens who pleaded guilty to killing 25-year-old West Valley City Police Officer Cody Brotherson on Nov. 6, 2016. The officer was laying down a set of spike strips when he was struck by a car the teens had stolen.

The third teen, who was reportedly driving the car, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder; the Boggs brothers pleaded guilty to lesser charges. When the boys were sentenced in July 2017, the juvenile court judge recommended they be held in custody for “as long as possible.”

Because they were in the juvenile court system, the Boggses could have been held until they turned 21. However, both brothers were transferred to the adult correctional system after being charged with assault by a prisoner in separate incidents — Lawrence in November 2018 and Christopher in January 2020. Both pleaded guilty.

Christopher Boggs was released in March; Lawrence Boggs was released in May — about four months early because of the coronavirus pandemic, according to police.

Christopher Boggs was booked into the Salt Lake County jail for investigation of theft by reception and parole violations; he’s being held on $25,000 bail. Lawrence Boggs remains hospitalized.

West Valley City police are still looking for a suspect in the Saturday shooting at the motel, and have released the accompanying photo. They’re asking that anyone with information about the suspect or the case call them at 801-840-4000 — and witnesses can remain anonymous.