Suspect In Custody After Shooting In Midvale Leaves Man In Critical Condition

MIDVALE, Utah – A man is in critical condition following an overnight shooting outside a motel in Midvale, and a 56-year-old man has been taken into custody.

The incident happened shortly after 2:30 a.m. Wednesday in the area of 7200 South and Catalpa Street.

The shooting happened inside one of the rooms of the Motel 6 at the same time a SWAT Team was serving a search warrant on a separate call. Authorities who were already on scene said they saw a man flee on foot after the incident.

Officers pursued the suspect, who ran through the parking lots of a La Quinta motel and a McDonald’s. They said the suspect then hid behind a dumpster and began firing at one of the pursuing officers. The officer was not injured, and he did not return fire.

The suspect was then witnessed going into a nearby storage unit where officers found him and took him into custody.

Wednesday afternoon, police identified the suspect as Michael Wes Burke. He was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on multiple charges, including aggravated assault, robbery and felony discharge of a weapon.

Sgt. Melody Gray, public information officer with Unified Police Department, said investigators are working to obtain a search warrant for the hotel room.

Officials said the shooting victim is a 32-year-old man.

The motive for the shooting is currently unknown. The victim’s identity has not been released.

Police also said Burke is believed to be responsible for at least two bank robberies — one in Kearns and another in Murray. Those cases are being investigated by the FBI.