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Soccer game shooting: Gunman opens fire into crowd at Salt Lake City park, injuring 2

The suspected gunman was arrested Tuesday, police said.

(Salt Lake City Police Department) Police investigate after two people were shot at a park during a soccer game on Monday, May 1, 2023.

Two people were shot and wounded Monday by a man who opened fire on a crowd of people during an evening soccer game at a Salt Lake City park.

The gunman left the scene and remained out of custody overnight Monday, but Salt Lake City police later announced Tuesday afternoon that the suspected perpetrator had been arrested.

According to police, gunshots were first reported at 17th South River Park, located at 1150 W. 1700 South, at about 7:30 p.m. When officers arrived, they found a 21-year-old man who had been shot. He was taken to a hospital in critical condition.

Witnesses reported that a man had ridden up to the park on a bicycle and fired several shots at a parked pickup truck. He then turned and fired multiple shots into the crowd on the soccer field, then rode away on the bicycle before getting into a vehicle.

Not only was the 21-year-old man shot, but several hours later — at about 10 p.m. — officers found a second person shot in a field south of the shooting scene. He is believed to have run from the park before collapsing; he was taken to a hospital in serious condition.

Police have released little information about the shooting, but did report that about 30 people — including “children and teens” — were either playing in the soccer game or watching from the sidelines when the man opened fire.

The suspected gunman who was taken into custody Tuesday was not immediately identified.