
Arrests Made But Questions Abound After Iron County Drive-By Homicide
Four arrests have been made in the shocking case of a drive-by shooting death of a 17-year-old Cedar City girl. Questions remain, however, regarding a motive for the shooting, and what, if any relationship might exist between the victim and the four suspects.
On Friday (1/17/25), just after 1030pm, Iron County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a 911 call reporting gunfire aimed at a vehicle and that the driver had sustained injuries. Law enforcement and Gold Cross Ambulance swiftly arrived at the intersection of Midvalley Road and 4300 West. Upon arrival, deputies began life-saving measures for the 17-year-old female driver while medical personnel prepared for her transport to Cedar City Hospital. A female passenger suffered minor injuries.
Tragically, the young driver succumbed to her injuries. Investigators from the Iron County Sheriff’s Office and crime scene experts were called to the scene. Preliminary investigations reveal that the victim’s vehicle was being pursued by a dark colored pickup truck or SUV for several miles. During this pursuit, the assailant’s vehicle pulled alongside the victim's and opened fire, striking the driver. The victim lost control, crashing through a vinyl fence before coming to rest approximately one hundred feet from the roadway.
The Sheriff’s Office is actively investigating the incident and seeking public assistance, asking anyone who may have witnessed a small red pickup truck being closely followed by a dark-colored truck or SUV on Lund Highway between 1600 North and Midvalley Road or heading west on Midvalley Road towards the Three Peaks Campground area to come forward.
The office is also requesting anyone living in, or with a business in the area, with surveillance camera footage that may be pertinent to the case to share it with investigators.
********UPDATE********
Sunday (1-19-25), the Iron County Sheriff's Department released a statement indicating that four arrests have been made in the case. After developing many leads, investigators turned their attention to a townhome complex located off Lund Highway at 1645 N and 3200 W. There, they discovered a vehicle that matched the suspect's vehicle description. While at this location, investigators observed a male leaving one of the apartments and walking toward the black Chevy truck. This individual was believed to be the truck's owner and was taken into investigative detention.
Subsequently, two other roommates were leaving the townhome and taken into custody for
questioning. The fourth roommate was at work but was later located and taken into custody. All four persons of interest were transported to the Sheriff's office for interviews to determine their involvement, if any, in the incident.
Following the investigative detention of these four individuals, the Iron County Sheriff's Office, with the assistance of the Cedar City Police Department and State Bureau of Investigations, executed a search warrant at the residence where all four persons resided. During the search deputies recovered a cache of firearms and ammunition, spent shell casings believed to be relevant to the incident, various electronics, and illicit drugs and paraphernalia. In addition, the Sheriff’s office seized the vehicle believed to be linked to the shooting, a 2018 Black Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck.
During the interview, 23-year-old Michael E. Hess-Witucki confessed to driving the suspect vehicle. He is also the registered owner. 23-year-old Ethan A. Galloway, admitted to being the front-seat passenger and the shooter.
Additionally, 21-year-old Aldric S. Felipe and 22-year-old Matthew D. Sorber-Petrie acknowledged that they were aware of the shooting and provided material support. They knew that Michael and Ethan had left the townhome to pursue the red pickup truck driven by the victims, which they believed had been stalking them at the townhome.
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