An 18-year-old man suspected of shooting and killing a man outside an event at the Salt Palace Convention Center on Saturday surrendered to police on Tuesday. The victim is believed to have scammed the suspect out of money.
The suspect arrived at the police station at about 4 p.m. and was taken into custody, according to police. Officials had identified him publicly on Monday, and issued a warning that he should be considered armed and dangerous.
The 18-year-old is suspected of shooting and killing Deliford Knight, 41. According to police, investigators have confirmed that Knight flew to Salt Lake City from Florida to attend Sneaker Con, a one-day sneaker buy-sell-trade event at the Salt Palace on Saturday. Knight was one of several people who, according to investigators, have attended several similar conventions and allegedly scammed other attendees through betting matches.
Police believe the 18-year-old suspect and two friends became angry when they lost money to Knight. A fight broke out outside the Salt Palace downtown, located at 150 W. South Temple, as the 18-year-old and his friends tried to get back the lost money.
At some point, the 18-year-old “took out a gun and shot Knight,” according to a new release from the Salt Lake City Police Department. The three suspects then took cash and a cell phone from Knight’s pockets and left the area.
Knight was taken to a hospital, where he died late Saturday.
Police have also arrested two men they say “aided and abetted” the 18-year-old suspect. A 22-year-old man was arrested Sunday; a 21-year-old man was arrested on Monday. All three men have been booked into the Salt Lake County jail for investigation of murder and aggravated robbery, and are being held without bail. The Salt Lake Tribune generally does not name defendants unless they have been charged with a crime.
