A recent rash of high tensions among rival gang members boiled over Wednesday near Kearns High School when a 16-year-old student was shot and killed during a confrontation in the street.
Esteban Manuel Saidi died in a local hospital early Wednesday evening after being transported there in critical condition earlier in the day.
The two groups had ties to rival gangs, Salt Lake County Sheriff Jim Winder said. An argument between the two ensued, which ended when one teen fired multiple shots, striking Saidi at least once, Winder said.
Ray Badovinatz was making a delivery in the area when he heard one of the shots and turned onto the street where the shooting occurred.
"It went 'pop' and they were running" he said. "I saw one group of kids on a dead run. The others were just standing in the street."
Badovinatz estimated there were a total of 10 to 11 teens in the two groups.
Donald Gonyea, who lives on the street where the shooting happened, said he had seen those teens before, hanging around the neighborhood during school hours.
Several students told the Deseret News the shooter and the victim had been feuding for a long time. At least nine students said they had heard the two were going to fight during school Wednesday morning.
"They're about the same size," a 17-year-old senior said. "So I thought it might be a fair fight. No one thought he would have brought a (expletive) gun into the whole thing."
Although many believed the confrontation was likely gang-related, several students told the Deseret News they did not expect the shooter, a member of the football team, according to some students, to take the action he did.
"He was doing good in school, keeping his grades up and just hanging out with the wrong friends," said another 17-old-student after school. "I don't think he was in a gang, but his friends for sure were."
After the shooting, Saidi was helped by friends to the school, where they sought help from the school resource officer. The school called 911, and the boy was taken to a hospital.
Esteban Manuel Saidi died in a local hospital early Wednesday evening after being transported there in critical condition earlier in the day.
The two groups had ties to rival gangs, Salt Lake County Sheriff Jim Winder said. An argument between the two ensued, which ended when one teen fired multiple shots, striking Saidi at least once, Winder said.
Ray Badovinatz was making a delivery in the area when he heard one of the shots and turned onto the street where the shooting occurred.
"It went 'pop' and they were running" he said. "I saw one group of kids on a dead run. The others were just standing in the street."
Badovinatz estimated there were a total of 10 to 11 teens in the two groups.
Donald Gonyea, who lives on the street where the shooting happened, said he had seen those teens before, hanging around the neighborhood during school hours.
Several students told the Deseret News the shooter and the victim had been feuding for a long time. At least nine students said they had heard the two were going to fight during school Wednesday morning.
"They're about the same size," a 17-year-old senior said. "So I thought it might be a fair fight. No one thought he would have brought a (expletive) gun into the whole thing."
Although many believed the confrontation was likely gang-related, several students told the Deseret News they did not expect the shooter, a member of the football team, according to some students, to take the action he did.
"He was doing good in school, keeping his grades up and just hanging out with the wrong friends," said another 17-old-student after school. "I don't think he was in a gang, but his friends for sure were."
After the shooting, Saidi was helped by friends to the school, where they sought help from the school resource officer. The school called 911, and the boy was taken to a hospital.
A recent rash of high tensions among rival gang members boiled over Wednesday near Kearns High School when a 16-year-old student was shot and killed during a confrontation in the street.
Esteban Manuel Saidi died in a local hospital early Wednesday evening after being transported there in critical condition earlier in the day.
The two groups had ties to rival gangs, Salt Lake County Sheriff Jim Winder said. An argument between the two ensued, which ended when one teen fired multiple shots, striking Saidi at least once, Winder said.
Ray Badovinatz was making a delivery in the area when he heard one of the shots and turned onto the street where the shooting occurred.
"It went 'pop' and they were running" he said. "I saw one group of kids on a dead run. The others were just standing in the street."
Badovinatz estimated there were a total of 10 to 11 teens in the two groups.
Donald Gonyea, who lives on the street where the shooting happened, said he had seen those teens before, hanging around the neighborhood during school hours.
Several students told the Deseret News the shooter and the victim had been feuding for a long time. At least nine students said they had heard the two were going to fight during school Wednesday morning.
"They're about the same size," a 17-year-old senior said. "So I thought it might be a fair fight. No one thought he would have brought a (expletive) gun into the whole thing."
Although many believed the confrontation was likely gang-related, several students told the Deseret News they did not expect the shooter, a member of the football team, according to some students, to take the action he did.
"He was doing good in school, keeping his grades up and just hanging out with the wrong friends," said another 17-old-student after school. "I don't think he was in a gang, but his friends for sure were."
After the shooting, Saidi was helped by friends to the school, where they sought help from the school resource officer. The school called 911, and the boy was taken to a hospital.
Esteban Manuel Saidi died in a local hospital early Wednesday evening after being transported there in critical condition earlier in the day.
The two groups had ties to rival gangs, Salt Lake County Sheriff Jim Winder said. An argument between the two ensued, which ended when one teen fired multiple shots, striking Saidi at least once, Winder said.
Ray Badovinatz was making a delivery in the area when he heard one of the shots and turned onto the street where the shooting occurred.
"It went 'pop' and they were running" he said. "I saw one group of kids on a dead run. The others were just standing in the street."
Badovinatz estimated there were a total of 10 to 11 teens in the two groups.
Donald Gonyea, who lives on the street where the shooting happened, said he had seen those teens before, hanging around the neighborhood during school hours.
Several students told the Deseret News the shooter and the victim had been feuding for a long time. At least nine students said they had heard the two were going to fight during school Wednesday morning.
"They're about the same size," a 17-year-old senior said. "So I thought it might be a fair fight. No one thought he would have brought a (expletive) gun into the whole thing."
Although many believed the confrontation was likely gang-related, several students told the Deseret News they did not expect the shooter, a member of the football team, according to some students, to take the action he did.
"He was doing good in school, keeping his grades up and just hanging out with the wrong friends," said another 17-old-student after school. "I don't think he was in a gang, but his friends for sure were."
After the shooting, Saidi was helped by friends to the school, where they sought help from the school resource officer. The school called 911, and the boy was taken to a hospital.
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