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KEARNS — A Kearns man accused of shooting another man at a park where he was celebrating his birthday with family, has been charged.
Colby Neil Hawkins, 20, was charged Wednesday in 3rd District Court with shooting in the direction of a person causing serious injury, a first-degree felony; and two counts of shooting in the direction of a person, a second-degree felony.
On Sept. 1, a man was celebrating his birthday at Oquirrh Park, 5624 S. Cougar Lane (4800 West), in Kearns. Police say about 100 other adults and children were also at the park that night. At some point during the night, the man and a friend walked to the park restroom.
The friend had been standing near the bathroom when "four unknown males, including a male later identified as Colby Hawkins approached and began socializing. The jokes turned into an argument and Hawkins was upset. (The victim) came out of the bathroom with his arms raised and asked if there was a problem. Hawkins pointed a gun at (the victim) and fired several rounds," according to charging documents. The man was shot twice, in his face and shoulder.
The friend responded by pulling out his gun and firing three to four rounds at Hawkins, the charges state. The victim later told police "there had not been any problems prior to the incident, and did not know what caused the shooting or who shot him," according to the charges.
Police say Hawkins ran away from the park after the shooting. But investigators searching the area found a key fob that opened a car that was still in the parking lot and was discovered to be registered to Hawkins, the charges state.
When detectives tracked down Hawkins, who allegedly said he was at the park to pay off a $40 debt he owed for marijuana, according to the charges. "Hawkins claimed there was a group of people that made a derogatory comment about him and an argument ensued."
But Hawkins then allegedly claimed he saw a large man rushing toward him out of the corner of his eye and pulled out his gun and fired, the charges state.
