Just in Time!

My dad called me this morning to inform me that we had "moved just in time."  Just in time for what you might ask... just in time to miss the break-in/shooting that took place at our apartment complex last night- in the building just next to our old apartment! 

Suspect fatally shot during Midvale home invasion

MIDVALE -- There was a terrifying wake up call for neighbors in a Midvale apartment complex as a home invasion robbery turned deadly.

Four people were inside the apartment Tuesday morning when there was a knock at the door. They answered it, and that's when the ordeal began. When it was all over one suspect was dead, shot by one of the residents in the apartment.

Police have been able to identify the man shot and killed during the home invasion at the Spring of Country Woods Apartment complex at 6995 S. 1030 East. They say the Metro Gang Unit was able to identify him through the tattoos on his body. They are waiting to release his name pending family notification.

Police say he had been affiliated with gangs in the past, but whether this was gang relates is still under investigation.

Sgt. John Salazar, with the Midvale Police Department, said, "On the deceased we found a weapon, a handgun and two knives. So, they were loaded."

Armed with handguns, knives and latex gloves, Sgt. Salazar says the nine suspects who pushed their way into the apartment were on a mission, but to do what?

"We don't know what was said, we don't know what they were here for," Salazar said.

A man and his nephew were visiting his girlfriend and her sister Tuesday morning when they heard a knock at the door. When one opened the door, the suspects pushed open the door. One of the men tried to close it but was stabbed. Once inside, the suspects held the victims at gunpoint and forced them into a back room.

Neighbors say they heard the rest.

Nicole Hulett said, "I heard screaming, and then I heard three shots and then flashes that happened with the triggers."

Another neighbor, Brian Lee, said, "I heard consistent gun fire, I thought maybe someone was getting murdered."

Police say at one point one of the male victims grabbed a gun from a suspect and opened fire, killing him. More shots were then fired, and the eight other suspects took off.

David Sandford was watching TV in his apartment nearby when he heard the shots. He ran to his porch just in time to see the suspects coming down the stairs.

"It was kind of a free-for-all, everyone was going, getting the heck out of there," he said.

Sandford says one of the suspects, an injured female, ran right past his porch, leaving a blood trail for police. One of the other suspects, he says, was carrying a gun.

"The way he had his hands held looked like he was carrying a shotgun or a riffle," Sanford said.

Police, K-9 units and swat teams all searched the area for hours this morning, looking for the suspects, but so far no one has been located.

Police, however, did locate a gun they believe was used during the invasion about a block from the area.

Police say no evidence was left behind in the apartment, but that everything at the scene does indicate the victim shot the suspect out of self-defense.

I must say, I am glad to be gone from there now!  There were a few scary things that happened to us there, and I'm glad to have missed this one!  While we lived there- 1) Matt's car got stolen 2) Police showed up at our door looking for a bank robber.  One day when Sydney was just a few months old, I heard a knock at our door in the middle of the day.  When I opened the door no one was standing there and I heard someone ask if I was alone.  Unsure of how to answer, I hesitantly said, "yes," while noticing police standing up and down the stairs that led to our apartment.  They told me that their police dog had sniffed a bank robber directly from the bank to our front door, and asked if they could look around.  I said yes, and they came in and looked under beds, in the shower, in closets, and all over.  Then they asked me questions about how old I was and about our neighbors.  After they searched our house, I packed Sydney up, and left to my parent's house, so I wouldn't have to be alone there.   After those two experiences I never quite felt safe there, and after this...we'll just say, we moved just in time!  On a brighter note:  We are excited to be moving to a 'safer' neigborhood!  People have been asking for pictures of our new place.  Here are a few, although they really aren't that great.  It looks much better in person!

Sydney & Baby's Room

Our Room

Along this wall will be our kitchen and dining area

Family Room- notice the BIG windows!

Our deck- that Sydney already loves

A blurry view from our deck

The outside: Ours goes just past the second window on the left