What started as a Sunday argument in a West Valley City neighborhood turned chaotic when a man allegedly pulled a handgun and fired two rounds into the air, according to court documents. Several witnesses, including children, told police the sudden gunfire sent people scrambling and left kids visibly shaken. Officers later found two spent shell casings at the scene and tracked the suspect to his home, where he briefly barricaded himself before surrendering to police.
Police response and arrest
According to KUTV, 27-year-old Andrew Kelton Greening was taken into custody on suspicion of prohibited dangerous weapon conduct, two counts of felony discharge of a firearm, possession of a controlled substance, failure to stop at the command of law enforcement, obstruction of justice and a violent offense committed in the presence of a child. Officers reported finding two empty shell casings near where the shots were fired, then locating Greening at his residence, where he was arrested and booked into the Salt Lake County Metro Jail.
The affidavit cited in the reporting states Greening told officers he only had a BB gun and that he got rid of it after leaving the scene.
What witnesses told investigators
An associate who was present during the confrontation told investigators Greening pulled the gun after “someone pointed a knife at her,” according to the affidavit quoted by KUTV. She also reportedly said he fired the shots to “scare” the others involved.
Multiple witnesses told authorities that children in the area were terrified and feared for their lives as the argument turned into gunfire overhead.
What the charges mean
Under Utah law, felony discharge of a firearm is a third-degree felony that can bring a prison term and tougher penalties if someone is hurt. The statute lays out the elements and possible punishments in Utah Code § 76-11-210. The allegation of prohibited dangerous weapon conduct ties into the state’s rules on restricted persons and firearms, detailed in Utah Code § 76-11-306.
Neighborhood pattern and next steps
The case lands in the middle of a run of firearm incidents in West Valley and nearby parts of the Salt Lake Valley, with stray rounds damaging homes and other shootings in public spaces fueling ongoing safety worries. In February, Hoodline highlighted a West Valley incident where a stray round punched through a television and led to an arrest; see Bullet Rips Through TV for prior coverage…