In the early morning hours of December 26, 2011, a Hispanic male named German Rodriguez-Torres, 49, was found deceased on a sidewalk in Salt Lake City, Utah. A passerby discovered his body around 7:42 a.m. near 100 South and 500 West and immediately alerted the authorities. Emergency crews arrived to find that Rodriguez-Torres had sustained a fatal gunshot wound.
The discovery, less than a block from the Gateway Mall, prompted Salt Lake City police to secure a large area as they
commenced a homicide investigation. Investigators at the time indicated that every sign pointed to the death being at the hands of another person. They began canvassing local businesses for any surveillance footage that might have captured the events leading to the shooting and sought to speak with the individual who initially found Rodriguez-Torres for more details.
In the immediate aftermath of the discovery, the motive for the shooting was unclear, and no weapon was recovered from the scene. Police officials stated that there was no initial evidence to suggest any connection to gang activity. Despite their efforts and public appeals for information, no suspects were immediately identified in the case. The investigation into the death of German Rodriguez-Torres has not led to any publicly announced arrests or the naming of any suspects in the years that have followed.
