PUBLIC RELATIONS UNIT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact Information: PolicePRUnit@slcgov.com

SLCPD Arrests Two in Connection with Briar Rose Place Murder Investigation

SALT LAKE CITY — Overnight, detectives with the Salt Lake City Police Department’s Homicide Squad arrested two people wanted as part of an ongoing murder investigation.

18-year-old Erik Virgen and 20 year-old Malibu Rose Mawson are both charged with aggravated robbery resulting in serious bodily injury and aggravated burglary.

On June 8, 2022, the Salt Lake City Police Department contacted the Enoch Police Department after getting information about Mawson’s and Virgen’s location.

Enoch Police safely located and arrested Virgen and Mawson. Detectives with the Salt Lake City Police Department’s Homicide Squad drove the two back to Salt Lake City where they were later booked into the Salt Lake County Metro Jail.

On Monday June 6, 2022, Salt Lake City Police responded to a shooting at 1636 West Briar Rose Place. Officers found 19-year-old Anthony Wheatley inside an apartment unit with critical injuries. Despite lifesaving efforts, Wheatley died on scene.

After receiving a court-authorized search warrant, detectives located two handguns and several spent shell casings inside the apartment where Wheatley died.

During this investigation, detectives learned there was a plan between Wheatley, Mawson, Virgen and another person to beat up and steal from one or both people living inside the apartment.

At some point, a fight broke out between several people inside the apartment. During that fight, multiple rounds were fired.

As previously released, Wheatley died, two others were shot, and one person hit with a gun.

After the fight and shooting occurred, Mawson and Virgen traveled to Cedar City.

Mawson is accused of helping to set up the initial robbery with Wheatley.

Virgen is accused of being inside the apartment and pointing a firearm at another person inside the apartment.

The Salt Lake City Police Department acknowledges the Enoch Police Department, Cedar City Police Department, Utah Highway Patrol, and the Iron County Sheriff’s Office for their dedicated assistance on this case.

Detectives continue to work with the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office to determine what, if any, additional criminal charges Mawson and Virgen could face.

No further information on this case is being released. Neither the PIO nor the On-Duty Watch Commander are available for interviews.

The Salt Lake City Police Department is not the custodian of record for jail booking photos. Utah Code 17-22-30 mostly prohibits the release of jail booking photos. Generally, a jail booking photo can only be released by the custodian of record after a conviction or when law enforcement determines the person is a fugitive or an imminent threat to a person or public safety. In Salt Lake City, the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office is the custodian of record for jail booking photos.

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