Somali man arrested after gunfire at west Salt Lake City motel

An argument involving several people at a west Salt Lake City motel ended with gunfire and the arrest of a fugitive.

Salt Lake City police said no one was injured during the altercation at the Garden Inn, 154 W. 600 South, about 4 p.m. Wednesday.

Police said the suspects were guests at the motel, and at some point some of them attempted to force entry to a room with one of the suspects brandishing a handgun. Whether intentionally or by accident, the firearm discharged.

The suspects fled, but while officers were on the scene investigating, the 22-year-old alleged shooter returned and was taken into custody.

Police said it turned out that the man, a Somali immigrant, was already wanted on multiple warrants out of South Salt Lake.

He was booked into Salt Lake County Jail, where he remained Thursday in lieu of more than $20,000 bail on suspicion of third-degree felony forgery counts and misdemeanor counts ranging from discharge of a firearm within city limits and use of a weapon in a fight to possession of drug paraphernalia and other charges.

remims@sltrib.com

Twitter: @remims