Police in Utah arrested a man believed to be responsible for firing a shot at a person driving a car during a protest against police brutality.
Jesse Taggart, 33, was booked on charges of attempted aggravated murder, aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury, threatening the use of a weapon during a fight, criminal mischief, and firing a weapon near a highway. Police say he fired a weapon at a bystander during the demonstration, according to KUTV.
Jesse Taggart, 33, a BLM activist, has been arrested for allegedly shooting a driver at a BLM riot in Provo, Utah. Taggar’s social media is filled w/ BLM content. He’s been charged w/attempted aggravated murder, aggravated assault, rioting, firing a weapon near a highway & more. pic.twitter.com/0dGI6Kpzoe
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) July 1, 2020
Samantha Darling, 27, was also booked into Ogden County Jail on charges of obstruction of justice and rioting, but it is unknown if the two suspects knew each other.
Video footage provided by witnesses showed a white SUV driving south on University Avenue in Provo before making a right turn. A group of protesters then circled the car, and a male can be seen pointing a handgun at the driver and shooting a round at the window. The driver was reportedly struck by the bullet before hitting the gas and fleeing.
In the heart of Mormon country in Provo, Utah, Black Lives Matter rioters surround a car in the street before one of them pulls a gun and fires twice at the driver. pic.twitter.com/2d9idiP0iU
— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) June 30, 2020
A man chased after the vehicle and fired a second round before hiding the firearm; he then continued to protest and eventually broke another car window with the gun.
Protests, looting, and riots have broken out across the country, mostly associated with the Black Lives Matter movement, following the death of George Floyd on May 25.
The victim was taken to the hospital and suffered non-life threatening injuries.
