WEST VALLEY CITY – Police are asking for help finding the person who opened fire on a minivan on the Bangerter Highway last night. They’re also releasing more information about the victim, and what led up to the shooting.
Investigators say 15-year old Irving Chuba was driving a blue minivan with friends on Bangerter Highway near 3500 South when they were approached by another car. Witnesses tell police Chuba recognized someone in that car. West Valley Police Spokesperson Roxeanne Vainuku says, “The driver, at that point, he starts to try to evade this other car.”
What followed was a high-speed chase that went along Bangerter and side streets to the west. The suspect even drove through red lights to keep up with Chuba. However, Chuba couldn’t escape his attacker. “He gets to Bangerter and 4100 South and there’s traffic. That holds the van up. At that point, the suspect vehicle pulls up alongside the van,” Vainuku says.
That’s when police say the shots were fired that killed Chuba and a Chihuahua that was inside.
Investigators say they don’t have a very good description of the suspect vehicle, other than it’s a gold or silver passenger car. So, Vainuku has this request for anyone who may have seen any kind of reckless driving between a blue minivan and that car near that area. “We’re asking them to give us a call and let us know what they saw,” she says.