A 16-year-old boy is in critical condition after being shot in an apparent drug deal gone bad.
It's an occurrance police and even criminals agree is all too common on some of Salt Lake City's streets.
The boy was shot twice Monday night in a residential area northwest of downtown.
Crime Specialist Karen Scullin has the story.
If you've never been involved in illegal drugs, the amount of violence involved might be surprising. But to others, who buy or deal, it's just the way it is.
Most know the risks, and are willing to take them.
Police were surprised when they pulled over a car near 4th South and 8th West, only to find a boy bleeding. He had been shot twice in the back.
Lt. Jack Rickards/Salt Lake City Police Department: WE BELIEVE THE REASON FOR THE SHOOTING WAS A NARCOTICS TRANSACTION THAT WENT BAD. TURNED INTO A
ROBBERY.
Police officers who patrol streets where drugs are dealt say it is an increasingly dangerous world.
And, a man we found today in a neighborhood known for drug trafficking says he, himself, has sold drugs, and has seen first hand how mean the streets can be.
Drug Dealer: I HAD TO STICK A GUY TWO WEEKS AGO. YOU KNOW, IT HAPPENS. Reporter: WHY DID YOU HAVE TO STICK HIM? Drug Dealer: 'CAUSE HE CONFRONTED ME, IT WAS A JACK MOVE. I AIN'T GETTING JACKED.
Drug Dealer: HE TRIED TO TAKE SOME MONEY AND IT WASN'T HAPPENING. Reporter: WAS HE TAKING IT FOR DRUGS? Drug Dealer: IT WAS ALL ABOUT DOPE.
The man admitted he's dealt drugs for years, and has been in an out of prison for a variety of crimes. He says violence is more commonplace on some city streets than people might think.
Reporter: SO WOULD YOU SAY YOU'VE SEEN A DOZEN PEOPLE HURT? Drug Dealer: HUH, I'VE HURT A DOZEN PEOPLE MYSELF AT LEAST. (edit) IN MY TIME IN UTAH, I'VE SEEN AT LEAST FORTY, FIFTY PEOPLE GET BEAT UP JUST FOR DOPE.
And on the streets, it's not just one type of drug that seems to attract violence. It's ALL illegal drugs.
Drug Dealer: CHEETAH, SMACK, CHINA WHITE, POWDER COCAINE. CRACK IS MAKING QUITE A DENT IN SOCIETY HERE. IT'S COMING.
Bottom line, if you get involved in illegal drugs, be prepared to watch people get hurt and sometimes even die.
Drug Dealer: I LOST A GOOD FRIEND 20 FEET FROM HERE. RIGHT WHERE WE'RE STANDING. GOT KILLED. TWENTY-FIVE MEXICANS STUCK HIM UP. Reporter: WHY? Drug Dealer: HE RIPPED THEM OFF FOR AN OUNCE OF DOPE. AND THEN CAME BACK.
Salt Lake City Police say the drug problem has remained fairly steady over the last year. But home invasion robberies where the victims are often thought to be drug dealers have increased.
It's definitely a dangerous world. But a sidenote-- the guy I interviewed says he is trying very hard to get out of the illegal drug business.
