FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 14, 2026

SLCPD Detectives Arrest Man for Obstruction Related to Homicide Investigation

SALT LAKE CITY —Detectives with the Salt Lake City Police Department’s Homicide Squad arrested a 32-year-old Ryan Toutai who is accused of obstructing a homicide investigation in Rose Park.

This investigation started on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, when officers were dispatched to a shooting at 660 North Redwood Road.

Officers and Salt Lake City Fire Department personnel arrived and found 8 people had been shot in the parking lot of a church, 2 of those individuals died on scene.

Detectives recovered a handgun, multiple shell casings, and a blue LA Dodgers baseball hat from the scene.

During the investigation detectives learned Toutai was inside the church the night of the shooting.

Detectives reviewed evidence, including videos, and found Toutai was wearing a blue LA Dodgers baseball hat.

When Toutai was interviewed he was not wearing the hat and said he did not know what happened to it. Toutai also denied having a firearm or seeing anyone with a firearm that day.

Detectives were told by multiple witnesses Toutai was involved in an altercation in the parking lot of the church and was involved in the shooting.

Detectives obtained a search warrant for Toutai’s phone and found videos of Toutai handling the firearm that was recovered the night of the shooting.

Detectives also found a video showing Toutai driving a car on the day of the shooting. A man in the passenger seat of the car is displaying a firearm that is consistent with the firearm recovered after the shooting.

Cell phone videos also show Toutai in the church parking lot walking toward the church with the man from the car, as well as a third man who was shot during the altercation.

When Toutai was arrested, he was attempting to conceal a firearm under the seat of the car he was riding in.

Detectives booked Toutai into the Salt Lake County Metro Jail on charge of felony obstruction of justice.

This is the first arrest made in this investigation. Detectives are actively investigating this case but have been hindered by a lack of cooperation from multiple people.

Anyone with information should call 801-799-3000 or submit a tip using this link: Submit an Anonymous Tip.

Charges are only allegations, and every arrested person is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

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