In the early morning hours of Sunday, November 2, 2014, the life of 29-year-old Jamie Lee Blalack was tragically cut short. A White male, Blalack was working as a sales clerk at a 7-Eleven on California Avenue in Salt Lake City, Utah, when the fatal encounter occurred. Born in Salt Lake City, he had spent his formative years in Libby, Montana, where he graduated from high school before eventually returning to the city of his birth. Known for his kindness to everyone he met, he enjoyed reading, playing video games, and spending time with his friends and family.
The night took a dark turn at approximately 1:20 a.m. when Anthony William Cline, a 30-year-old man, entered the convenience store. An argument erupted between Cline and Blalack over the sale of cigarettes. After being asked to leave the store, Cline walked out into the parking lot. As he was leaving, he turned and fired a single shot from a handgun. The bullet shattered the front glass of the store and struck Blalack in the head as he stood behind the counter, tragically ending his life at the scene.
Thanks to information from witnesses and tips from the public, law enforcement was able to quickly identify a suspect. Later that same day, police located Anthony William Cline at a motel in the nearby city of Woods Cross and took him into custody without incident. He was subsequently arrested and charged in connection with the murder of Jamie Blalack.
Ultimately, Anthony William Cline pleaded guilty to reduced charges of manslaughter and felony discharge of a firearm. In July 2016, he was sentenced to prison for his role in the senseless death of Jamie Blalack. During the sentencing, Blalack's mother tearfully expressed the profound and unending grief caused by the loss of her son, a sentiment echoed by other family members who were present. Cline offered an apology to the family, acknowledging that his actions had irrevocably taken their loved one.
