Herriman • Two women were arrested Tuesday afternoon for allegedly keeping information from police about a Saturday episode in Riverton, where a man allegedly shot at a Unified Police Department officer and later shot and wounded a resident.
The suspect in the shooting, 33-year-old Justin Gary Llewelyn, who was then considered to be “armed and extremely dangerous,” is not in custody.
Salt Lake City police took in three people for questioning on Tuesday. Two of them — a 50-year-old and a 24-year-old — were later arrested on complaints of obstructing justice, police announced on Twitter.
Salt Lake City police Sgt. Brandon Shearer declined to elaborate on their relationships to Llewelyn or give details about their arrest, citing the ongoing investigation.
The 50-year-old’s probable-cause statement indicates that she lied to police about Llewelyn’s involvement in Saturday’s shooting when police talked to her that day. Telephone records reportedly prove that the woman knew of Llewelyn’s “involvement in this crime and took steps to be untruthful with law enforcement.”
The arrests stem from Saturday’s events, in which Llewelyn shot at police about 6 a.m. near 13770 South Dragonfly Lane (about 5000 West) in Riverton, authorities say, and then broke into a Riverton home and shot and wounded a homeowner while stealing a car. (UPD had said the shooting episodes occurred in nearby Herriman.)
After the firsts shooting, according to UPD Lt. Brian Lohrke, Llewelyn crashed the homeowner’s SUV near Blackridge Reservoir in Herriman.
The homeowner was taken to the hospital and is recovering in good condition, police said Monday.
Detective Greg Wilking said at a Tuesday news conference in Herriman that police targeted the trio because they may have some idea of what went on this weekend and where Llewelyn might be.
Police found them in “a couple different places” around the Herriman area; Wilking said the search and detainments went “smoothly.”
Wilking said it’s unclear where Llewellyn is, and that law enforcement in surrounding states are on the lookout. Residents near Herriman and Riverton should remain vigilant, Wilking said, but officers don’t anticipate “a repeat incident of what happened on Saturday.”
Police are asking Llewelyn to turn himself in as “quickly” and “safely as possible,” and that anyone with information should contact police.
“If you’re not forthcoming and helpful with police, then you may find yourself on the wrong end of criminal charges,” Wilking said.
The Salt Lake City police tip line can be reached at 801-799-4420. Police are offering a $4,500 reward for information that leads to Llewelyn’s arrest, Salt Lake City police said.
As a precaution during the search, Blackridge and Foothills elementary schools and Fort Herriman Middle school were placed on lockdown for a short time. The lock down was lifted by the end of the school day.
In the months prior to Saturday’s shooting, police say, Llewelyn had been living with a family member near the Riverton-Herriman border. His criminal history includes assault-, theft-, weapons- and drug-related charges.
Salt Lake City police have taken the lead on the investigation because of Unified Police’s policy regarding police shootings, which designates an outside agency to investigate. Salt Lake City and West Valley City police also use the protocol.
