Salt Lake City police battle rock-throwers after shooting

SALT LAKE CITY -- Several streets were shut down in downtown Salt Lake City Saturday night as police attempted to control unrest after an officer-involved shooting near a homeless shelter.

CBS affiliate KUTV reported the shooting happened around 8 p.m. near 250 S. Rio Grande Street, and was followed by chaos as a large group of people began rioting, throwing rocks and screaming at police, according to officials.

Police confirmed that two officers were involved in the shooting, but details of the circumstances and the extent of injuries was not known.

Witness Selam Mohammad told the Salt Lake Tribune that a 16-year-old boy who was his friend was shot in the chest and stomach.

Mohammad told the Tribune that the victim and a man were in a confrontation, and the victim was holding part of a broomstick at his side when officers ran up.

"They told him to put it down, once," Mohammad said, and "started shooting him as soon as he turned around."

About an hour after the shooting, a group of people remained on 200 South chanting vulgarities at police officers, KUTV said. The road was shut down from 600 West to 400 West and police closed a light rail stop in the neighborhood.

Witnesses were detained, police said, but no one was arrested. Officers were warning people in the area that it was not safe, according to KUTV.

Salt Lake City Police requested emergency help from several other agencies in the area, including Unified Police, Murray Police, and the Utah Highway Patrol.

The Tribune reports that there are a number of homeless shelters in the neighborhood and that business owners have long complained about the homeless population and drug dealing.