PUBLIC RELATIONS UNIT

June 12, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact Information: PolicePRUnit@slcgov.com

Media Request Form: https://slcpd.com/mediarequest/

Update: SLCPD Arrest 30-Year-Old Man for Downtown Shooting

SALT LAKE CITY — Today, the Salt Lake City Police Department identified 30-year-old Johnny Cuevas as being the suspect who shot and injured a 23-year-old man in downtown.

The motive for this shooting is still under investigation, but officers do not believe it to be random.

Officers have booked Cuevas into the Salt Lake County Metro Jail on one felony count of Aggravated Assault, three felony counts of Discharging a Firearm, one felony count of Possession of a Dangerous Weapon by a Restricted Person, and one misdemeanor count of Obstruction of Justice.

Officers have also requested Cuevas be held in jail because when this shooting occurred, he was a category one restricted person, making it illegal for him to be in possession of a firearm. Officers believe Cuevas’ actions showed a wanton disregard for community safety.

This investigation started at 5:56 p.m., on Sunday, June 11, 2023, when a community member called 9-1-1 and immediately gave the address of 100 South 300 East and disconnected.

SLC911 attempted to call back but the person didn’t answer. SLC911 continued to call the number and a person eventually answered and said someone had fired a gun.

SLC911 received additional calls from community members who provided crucial information about the shooting and Cuevas.

While officers searched the area for any victims, suspects, and evidence, they learned a man arrived at a local hospital with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to the foot.

Because of a community tip, officers quickly and safely detained Cuevas near the Main City Library.

Officer also found and safely seized a firearm.

Officers have also determined there are two crime scenes associated with this incident.

The first is located at 105 South 300 East which is where officers believe the suspect shot the victim.

The second is located at 250 South 300 East which is where officers believe Cuevas  shot toward a second person as he fled the scene. That shooting did not injure the person.

The names of the victims are not being released, which is standard for assault investigations.

Charges are only allegations, and every arrested person is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The Salt Lake City Police Department is not the custodian of record for jail booking photos. Utah Code 17-22-30 mostly prohibits the release of jail booking photos. Generally, a jail booking photo can only be released by the custodian of record after a conviction or when law enforcement determines the person is a fugitive or an imminent threat to a person or public safety. In Salt Lake City, the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office is the custodian of record for jail booking photos.

A SLCPD Public Information Officer (PIO) responded to the scene to provide media and community members updates.

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