Two teenagers arrested after shooting teen thinking girl was ‘stalking’ them, police say

Investigators say two of the four men arrested in the death of a 17-year-old Iron County girl said they followed her vehicle and fired at her because they thought she and her passengers were ” Track” them.

Michael Edward Hess-Wittaki, 23; Ethan Andrew Galloway, 23; Aldric S. Felipe, 21; Matthew D. Sorber-Petri and Matthew D. 22. Sorber-Petri were both arrested in connection with the shootings.

Hess-Witacki and Galloway were both arrested in connection with the murder investigation and 12 counts of discharge of a firearm causing serious injury; obstruction of justice; possession of a controlled substance; and possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person. Felipe and Sauber-Petrie were both arrested in connection with the investigation of obstruction of justice, possession of a controlled substance and being a restricted person in a firearms transaction.

Iron County Sheriff Ken Carpenter said the 17-year-old girl and a friend were riding in a red truck along a stretch of road northwest of Cedar City, followed by another vehicle. Around 10:42 p.m., he said a second car pulled up next to the teens and started shooting.

Twelve shots were fired inside the car, according to the police affidavit filed in support of the arrests of the four men. The vehicle then fled the scene.

The Sheriff’s Office said the gunshot struck the driver, causing her to lose control. The truck swerved off the road, broke through a vinyl fence and came to a stop about 100 feet northwest of the intersection of Midvalley Road and 4300 West.

Sheriff Ken Carpenter said the 18-year-old passenger in the truck suffered shrapnel wounds to the leg. He said the passenger called 911.

Life-saving measures were taken on the teen driver, but she died at the scene from multiple gunshot wounds. Her identity has not been released.

Hess-Vitaki was identified as the registered owner of the vehicle, which “pursued the victim to a remote location where Galloway fired twelve rounds,” according to the booking affidavit.

When deputies searched the area where the girl who survived the incident said another vehicle first confronted them, deputies found a vehicle matching that description.

“During the course of the investigation, several witnesses provided testimony to investigators that they observed suspicious vehicles in the same neighborhood described by the surviving teenage victim passenger. Witnesses also provided supporting witnesses to investigators,” the affidavit states. Surveillance video of the testimony placed the suspect vehicle in and around the area where the homicide occurred during the time frame of the report.

Officers received search warrants for the suspect’s vehicle and home. Before executing the search warrant, officers detained Hess-Wittaki, Galloway and Sauber-Petrie in front of a home as they tried to leave, the affidavit states.

“During the execution of the search warrant, several firearms and ammunition were recovered that matched the caliber used in the homicide and were similar to shell casings found at the crime scene. Additionally, controlled substances and drug paraphernalia were found inside the suspect’s residence. “Drugs, including mushroom e-cigarettes, marijuana e-cigarettes and various pipes used to smoke marijuana, were identified and recovered,” deputies wrote in the affidavit.

In interviews following the Miranda incident, police said Hess-Vitaki and Galloway “admitted to participating in the homicide,” according to the affidavit.

Hess-Vitaki said he drove the car and chased the victim’s vehicle, and Galloway said he was in the front passenger seat and fired at the victim’s vehicle, the affidavit states.

“Both suspects admitted that their actions resulted in the victim’s serious bodily injury and death. The reason they pursued the victim’s vehicle was that they believed they had previously observed the victim’s vehicle nearby and speculated that the victim’s vehicle was People are storing these items.

Investigators learned the girls and men lived in the same townhouse for “unrelated reasons.”

“At the conclusion of the interview, Ethan wrote a letter of apology to the victim’s parents describing his reasons for pursuing the victim’s vehicle and shooting the victim’s driver,” the affidavit states.

“Sauber-Petrie admitted that he allowed Hess-Wittaki and Galloway to take his firearm because he knew they would use it against the alleged stockpilers,” the affidavit states. “Felipe Vs. Sauber-Petrie remained at the residence while knowing that Hess-Vitaki and Galloway were using Hess-Vitaki’s vehicle to pursue the juvenile victim’s vehicle that was driving near them.”

“Our hearts go out to the families of these two young ladies. They did nothing. They were just teenagers playing when someone violently attacked them and ended them without any apparent reason. life,” Carpenter said Saturday, his voice thick with emotion. “We are committed to finding them. We are pursuing them and once we find them, we will hold them accountable.