A 74-year-old man is facing aggravated assault charges following an incident in Salt Lake City on Sunday where he allegedly struck a mini-bike rider with his vehicle and then fired a shot at a group of riders. Police located and detained Kurt Snyder thanks to videos recorded by members of the mini-bike group and a partial license plate number.
The incident occurred as a "relatively small but close-knit group of Salt Lake-area young people who build and ride minibikes" were on what was described as a fun ride. According to accounts from group members, a man driving a BMW drove past the group, allegedly hitting one of them with his vehicle. The driver then turned his vehicle around and allegedly fired a shot in the direction of the riders.
Cambry Bradberry, a member of the group, was one of several individuals who began recording the events on a cell phone. Bradberry recounted that the group decided to "just record" when the man "let off a shot and drove away." Another group member, Daniel Moreno, corroborated this, noting that after everyone started recording, the driver "lets off a shot." Immediately after the reported gunfire, the driver of the BMW sped away from the scene.
Salt Lake City Police Department (SLCPD) officers responded to the scene within minutes of the incident. The group of mini-bike riders provided the officers with the videos they had captured on their phones. Det. Michael Ruff of the Salt Lake City Police Department acknowledged the utility of the footage, despite its quality. While the video was "not the greatest" and "hard to exactly see what’s happening," Det. Ruff confirmed that "our officer could clearly hear a gunshot on it."
The combination of witness video evidence and a partial license plate number proved crucial in the investigation. This information allowed Salt Lake City police to identify, locate, and subsequently detain Kurt Snyder. Snyder is now facing aggravated assault charges in connection with the Sunday incident.
For the mini-bike group, whose passion is building and riding their bikes for enjoyment, the incident has prompted a pause in their activities. Daniel Moreno indicated that the group plans to take a break from riding in the immediate future, stating they would "chill for a little bit." He added that they might "probably wait till next summer" before resuming their rides. The experience from Sunday's events may lead the group to reconsider their riding schedule for some time.
