Court records uncover some of the backstory of tragic West Valley City shooting
WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah (KUTV) — On Wednesday, new details emerged into what police said is part of the backstory that led to the deaths of two teenage boys in West Valley City.
2News knows the 14-year-old suspect's identity, but because he's a minor, his name will not be published at this time.
Chris Bertram is a former deputy sheriff and is currently a private investigator and criminal justice professor. He said investigating homicide cases is complicated.
MORE: Police tracing gun believed to have been used in fatal shooting of 2 Hunter High students
“What makes this one even worse is that we have juveniles, high school kids," Bertram said. "And the tragedy of what this did to our community is really just a sad state of affairs with regards to why is this going on in our high school."
Court records show detectives found a second gun, and alleged another person involved in the incident threw a 9mm into a nearby ditch.
“There is a story with regards to why there are two guns there, why these people felt there was a need to bring a gun to school” Bertram said.
Police describe "rival groups" being involved in a dispute for more than a year, and one person was threatened he would be beaten up if he came back to school.
BACKGROUND
- Two killed, one injured in shooting on sidewalk near Hunter High School
- Police identify two teens shot, killed in West Valley City
- Teenage shooter suspected of killing 2 teens, critically injuring another
- State intends to transfer suspect in West Valley shootings to adult court
- Charges filed for West Valley teen in fatal shooting of Hunter High classmates
Police said the shooting happened the very next day.
“What was the intent, what was going on (is) going to determine how this goes forward," Bertram said.
The district attorney said the intent is to eventually move this case to adult court, but at this point it is still a juvenile case.
If the 14-year-old suspect is tried as an adult, Bertram said that would be unusual.
"When you get to 15- and 14-year-olds, we as a society need to ask ourselves some serious questions as to whether we're going to hold these people responsible as adults,” he said.
MORE on the shooting:
- 'He's a miracle': Family of Hunter High teen injured in WVC shooting speaks out
- GALLERY: Shooting in West Valley City leaves 2 juveniles dead
- Dad says shooting victims were friends of his son, 'passed in front of his feet'
- Witnesses recount frightening scenes following West Valley City shooting that killed 2
- 'I didn't get a chance to say goodbye': Family mourns WVC teens shot, killed