A suspect who was reportedly seeking “vengeance” when he ran down and killed a man on a scooter has been arrested.
Police learned that the suspect and the victim — 61-year old Victor Herschberger — knew each other, according to a probable cause statement, and a witness said the suspect was looking for the victim and “has been on a vengeance spree.”
Court documents do not elaborate on the suspect’s motives.
According to police, the 53-year-old suspect was driving the car that hit and killed Herschberger at about 1:15 a.m. on Monday morning. Both men were traveling in the same direction on 1000 North near Topaz Drive when the suspect u-turned and veered into Herschberger at a high rate of speed.
Witnesses told police the suspect “intentionally ran [Herschberger] over from behind, made no attempt to stop and fled the scene,” according to the probable cause statement. Herschberger died at the scene.
Both surveillance video and witnesses identified the car that hit Herschberger as a red, 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier. That vehicle, which had “damage consistent with the collision,” was found abandoned in Salt Lake City on Tuesday.
On Thursday at about 8 p.m., police arrested the suspect at a campsite in Tooele County. According to a probable cause statement, when questioned the suspect admitted that he struck Herschberger with his car; that he did not stop; and that he abandoned his car to avoid arrest.
The suspect — identified by police as a “multi-state offender” who has a “history of violence, including aggravated burglary and domestic violence assault” — has been booked into the Salt Lake County jail for investigation of murder, obstruction of justice, failure to remain at the scene of an accident and driving without a license. He is being held without bail pending formal charges.
The Salt Lake Tribune generally does not name suspects unless they have been charged with a crime.
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