Utah Men Chase Girls in Truck, Kill Driver Because They Thought They Were Stalking Them

Utah police have arrested four suspects in the shooting death of a 17-year-old girl who was shot Friday night by gunmen who pursued her vehicle for miles before pulling alongside and opening fire.

And, the Iron County Sheriff’s Office revealed, a passenger in the girl’s truck survived the shooting and helped lead investigators to the suspects, KSTU reported. Her friend, another 17-year-old girl, was not injured, according to KUTV.

Deputies were called to the scene Friday night after the girl was shot and crashed through a fence, as CrimeOnline reported. She died shortly after being brought to a hospital.

The sheriff’s office says that 23-year-old Michael Edward Hess-Witucki was driving the pursuing vehicle while 23-year-old Ethan Andrew Galloway was the shooter, according to KSTU. Both were charged with one count of murder and 12 counts of felony discharge of a firearm.

The other two suspects were identified as Aldric Felipe, 21, and Matthew D. Sorber-Petrie, 22, who were both booked on obstruction of justice charges. Police said the gun used in the incident belonged to Sorber-Petrie, and both suspects knew that Hess-Witucki and Galloway intended to commit a crime.

All four were arrested Saturday afternoon after the passenger in the girl’s truck gave investigators descriptions of the suspect vehicle and showed them where the encounter began.

Once investigators knew where the incident started, they found witnesses who placed the vehicle in the area and were able to track the suspects to an apartment complex. Hess-Witucki, Galloway, and Sorber-Petrie attempted to flee as police arrived to serve a search warrant but were quickly detained.

Hess-Witucki and Galloway admitted their roles in the shooting, with Galloway admitting he fired 12 shots into the vehicle.

The suspects told police they pursued the girl’s truck because they had seen the vehicle in the neighborhood and thought the victims were stalking them. Sorber-Petrie told police he gave the other suspects his gun, knowing they intended to confront the “alleged” stalker.

Investigators said the girl and her passenger were in the area for unrelated reasons.

All four suspects are being held without bail.

The juvenile victims’ names have not been released.

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[Featured image: The girl’s truck after the crash/Iron County Sheriff’s Office]