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Utah man who reportedly ran over and killed his bicycling roommate is charged with murder

(Photo courtesy of the Salt Lake County jail) Shamil Marcus Bikul

A West Valley City man is facing a murder charge after he reportedly ran over and killed his roommate, who was riding a bicycle.

Shamil Marcus Bikul, 40, has been charged in 3rd District Court with murder, a first-degree felony, and leaving the scene of an accident involving death, a third-degree felony.

According to West Valley City police, on Sept. 3, they found the body of the victim — Lewis Ricky Yates Jr., 50 — in the road at 3661 S. Market St. (2820 West), a few yards away from his bicycle. Security video showed a white sedan hitting Yates “without slowing down,” according to a probable cause statement. Yates “survived the first attack and was attempting to get out of the roadway” when the car “flipped a U-turn” and sped in the opposite direction, “crossing into the oncoming lane and striking Ricky again.”

Police found a license plate near Yates’ body and traced it to a car registered to Bikul, who was Yates’ roommate.

When questioned, Bikul told police he “intentionally” hit Yates, according to court documents, and that he was “full of rage.”

Bikul is being held without bail in the Salt Lake County jail.