TAYLORSVILLE, Utah (KUTV) — Early Saturday morning, a fatal shootout at a Speedway gas station in Taylorsville resulted in the arrest of three individuals. Alejandro Julian Bia, 23, and Daniel Vargas Rodriguez, 19, were booked into Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of aggravated murder, discharge of a firearm, and obstruction of justice. A third individual, a 17-year-old boy whose name was not released by authorities, was also taken into custody.
According to police affidavits, the incident occurred around 3:00 AM when two vehicles with approximately nine people stopped at the gas station for information about a house party. Surveillance footage shows that Bia and Rodriguez arrived in another vehicle shortly after, leading to an altercation between them and the other group of individuals present.
The confrontation escalated into gunfire as Isaiah Chavez, who was reportedly in his early 20s, approached Bia's car. As he came around the corner near Bia’s vehicle, surveillance video indicates that Bia fired a weapon out the window at Chavez. In response, Chavez returned fire and attempted to flee back towards his own vehicle.
Bia fled the scene but was later apprehended by police after tracking him down using license plate reader machines and cellphone data. When questioned, he admitted to firing shots from his car but denied knowing who initiated the gunfire first. Police countered that it is evident Bia fired first based on surveillance video evidence showing him lowering a window before shooting.
Additionally, investigators noted another incident involving a 15-year-old male seen holding a firearm and chasing after Rodriguez; however, further details about this individual were not provided by authorities at press time.
The third arrestee, the 17-year-old boy, was detained alongside Bia and Rodriguez during a SWAT team operation conducted later that day. Police confirmed Chavez's death shortly following the shooting incident.
Bia is identified as a known gang member, adding another layer of complexity to this violent encounter in an otherwise quiet neighborhood setting early Saturday morning.