In the late afternoon of August 15, 2019, a tragic event unfolded on a busy Salt Lake City street, forever altering the lives of those involved. Alicia Baxter, a 33-year-old woman, was fatally shot on the sidewalk near the corner of 800 W. North Temple. The incident occurred around 5 p.m. in an area typically bustling with activity, particularly with patrons of nearby restaurants. Witnesses reported seeing Alicia talking with three men shortly before a single gunshot was heard.
When police arrived at the scene at 51 North and 800 West, they discovered Alicia bleeding from a gunshot wound to her head. She was immediately transported to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
The initial investigation suggested that the attack was not random, with police believing that at least one of the men was acquainted with Alicia. Law enforcement began interviewing witnesses and reviewing surveillance footage from the area to piece together the events leading up to the shooting. It was a witness account of an argument between Alicia and a man, later identified as Timothy Vaughn, that provided a significant lead in the case. This witness stated they saw the two arguing in front of a local restaurant just moments before the fatal shot was fired.
Following a thorough investigation, charges were filed in early September 2019 against 27-year-old Timothy Vaughn. His address was listed as the Salt Lake homeless shelter. Vaughn was charged with murder, theft by receiving stolen property, and possession of a firearm by a restricted person. Investigators were able to identify Vaughn by reviewing surveillance footage from a nearby market where he had purchased sodas he was reportedly selling to get back to Park City. Another witness told police that Vaughn had approached him before the shooting and attempted to sell him a stolen gun. After the incident, Vaughn allegedly fled the scene on a TRAX train, changing trains multiple times and removing an outer layer of clothing to alter his appearance. At the time the murder charges were filed, Vaughn was already incarcerated in the Utah County Jail on unrelated charges stemming from an altercation that occurred two days after Alicia's death. During that arrest, police found a handgun and ammunition in his backpack.
