Detectives with the Salt Lake City Police Department have announced the arrest of a 24-year-old man accused of shooting a convenience store employee for no apparent reason during a robbery. According to a news release, detectives initiated an investigation around 2 a.m. on December 26, 2023 when 911 received information about a shooting at a convenience store near 400 East 200 South.

At the scene, officers found the victim with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. The victim was still under medical care at the last time of the update on December 29. Detectives say they identified the suspect as Jose Barajas-Macias who was wanted for other crimes in the Salt Lake Valley.

Detectives say the suspect and his friends entered the store to shop. Before leaving, the suspect reportedly shot the clerk. The motive is still unclear, but authorities say Barajas-Macias stole a pair of gloves. Barajas-Macias was apprehended at a residence in Weber County. He was booked into the Salt Lake County Metro Jail on charges of aggravated robbery, felony discharge of a firearm, possession of a dangerous weapon by a restriction person, and parole violation.