Aug. 28, 2000
A deadly shooting early this morning topped off a long list of weekend violence across the Salt Lake Valley.
But while certain types of crime remain a big problem in some areas, a national study says violent crime is way down.
Crime Specialist Karen Scullin has more.
This weekend, there were shootings, carjackings, armed robberies, a stabbing, and a homicide in West Valley City. Some residents say violent crime can't be going down.
Police say a gunman waited for 26-year-old Fred Liti to come into close range, and then fired right through the kitchen window. Liti died at the hospital from a gunshot wound to the chest. The suspect is still on the run.
Gary Ellison/Neighbor: I HEARD THE GUNSHOT, BUT I NEVER PAID TOO MUCH ATTENTION 'CAUSE IT'S HAPPENED BEFORE IN THIS AREA AND I DON'T STICK MY HEAD OUT THE DOOR THAT TIME OF NIGHT.
Sherrie Black/Neighbor: I WASN'T AFRAID. THERE WERE PLENTY OF POLICE OFFICERS AND PEOPLE OUT HERE.
Also yesterday, a shooting after a dispute over fifty dollars left one man in critical condition.
Gary Ellison: NOWADAYS YOU CAN'T SAY ANYTHING TO ANYBODY, YOU CAN'T LOOK AT THEM. THEY THINK-- WHAT DOES MY DAUGHTER SAY-- YOU'RE 'STARING THEM OFF.' YOU CAN GET SHOT.
Karen Scullin/Eyewitness News: IT WAS A VIOLENT WEEKEND NOT ONLY FOR WEST VALLEY CITY BUT ALL ACROSS THE SALT LAKE VALLEY. CARJACKINGS, SHOOTINGS, AND ROBBERIES. ALL OF THIS WHILE THE F.B.I. SAYS VIOLENT CRIME IS GOING DOWN ACROSS THE NATION. MANY PEOPLE AROUND HERE SAY THEY SIMPLY CAN'T BELIEVE THAT.
Dan Foster/Neighbor: FOR THIS AREA, NO I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S GOING DOWN AT ALL. IN FACT I THINK IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO RISE.
Some say they've even gotten used to hearing gunfire.
Gary Ellison: I HEAR GUNSHOTS ALL THE TIME. NOT RIGHT CLOSE, BUT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. AND I SPENT TIME IN THE MILITARY. I KNOW WHAT A GUNSHOT IS INSTEAD OF BACKFIRE OR
FIRECRACKERS.
But most police agencies will tell you, that Utah is right in line with the nation's declining violent crime statistics.
Lt. Lance Call/West Valley City Police Dept.: STATISTICALLY THINGS ARE BETTER THAN THEY HAVE BEEN IN THE PAST.
But Lt. Call says crime waves, like over the weekend, come in cycles and sometimes they hit the same neighborhoods.
So those residents probably aren't celebrating the low violent crime numbers that might show up for the entire metro area.
