Gunman shot driver, then hid weapon and continued to protest, Provo police say

[Valin]

Deseret News

Pat Reavy

Jun 30, 2020

In this video frame grab, a masked gunman can be seen pointing and firing at the driver of the white SUV during a protest in downtown Provo Monday night. Jay Hancock, Deseret News

PROVO — Provo police have confirmed that one person was shot during a protest Monday night near the police department.

The victim, a 60-year-old Provo resident, remained hospitalized Tuesday but was “stable,” according to police. The man was not part of the protest or counter-protest that had been going on, but was just driving in the area, said Provo Police Sgt. Nisha King.

The victim was driving a white SUV on University Avenue and was attempting to turn onto Center Street when a group of protestors began “crowding around the vehicle. A male protester ran to the SUV on the passenger side, pointed a handgun at (the) driver and shot one round through the window,” according to a a synopsis of the incident by Provo Deputy Police Chief John Guyerman.

The driver, who was struck by a bullet, “hit the gas trying to leave the situation,” Guyerman said.

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Can You Spot The Moron?

 

[Valin]

BLM Protester Will Be Charged With Attempted Murder After Shooting At Driver During Utah Protest

Emily Zanotti

Jul 1st, 2020 

A Black Lives Matter protester who shot at cars during a demonstration in downtown Provo, Utah, on Monday, has been arrested and charged with attempted aggravated murder among other crimes.

A shocking video, posted across social media Monday, showed at least one protester discharging a weapon multiple times into the cab of a large SUV that drove through a Black Lives Matter protest held in Provo on Monday. Provo police corroborated what is seen in the clip, posting on social media late Monday that a shooting victim had been received at a local hospital and that officers were looking for information on the shooter.

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On Wednesday, Provo police announced that they’d arrested 33-year-old Jesse Taggart, one of the BLM demonstrators, in connection with the shooting, according to a local Fox affiliate.

“According to Provo Police, 33-year-old Jesse Taggart of Salt Lake City was arrested on charges of attempted aggravated murder, aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury, rioting, threatening the use of a weapon in a fight or quarrel, criminal mischief, and firing a weapon near a highway,” per Fox 13 Utah.

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A second protester, a 27-year-old woman, was also arrested and charged with obstruction of justice and rioting, but police did not say whether she was connected to the shooting or to Taggart. Desert News notes that Provo authorities are looking for a second shooter.

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Jesse Taggart

 

Samantha Darling