Kearns man indicted on charges related to shooting during party

KEARNS, Utah (ABC4) — A Kearns man was indicted by a grand jury after a shooting near the Utah Olympic Oval injured one person during a birthday party.

Colby Neil Hawkins, 20, of West Valley City was charged on three counts of felony discharge of a firearm. Charging documents report that two of the charges resulted in bodily injury, and the third resulted in serious bodily injury.

According to the charging documents, detectives believe that Hawkins was at one of two parties that took place at Oquirrh Park on Sept. 1, according to Sgt. Aymee Race of Unified Police. Documents state that another male, identified as Carlos Chavez was in the bathroom when Hawkins approached and began socializing with Julian Moreno, a friend of Chavez.

Charging documents say the interaction started with jokes and eventually turned into an argument. That’s when Chavez came out of the bathroom asking if there was a problem. Hawkins allegedly pulled out a handgun and shot Chavez twice in the right side of the face and once in the shoulder.

When officers arrived and searched the park, they found a key fob to a car, a black Mercedes, which was registered to Hawkins. A magazine of a handgun was found in the same area. Police also received surveillance video from a nearby house which shows a male running by, who can be heard saying he was worried about being jumped.

The car that the fob activated matched the description Moreno gave to police. Hawkins allegedly told police he was meeting with a person at the park to give them money he owed.

He was arrested and is in Salt Lake County jail. He is due in court on Sept. 17.

Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

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