Herriman police make second arrest in stabbing death of teen

HERRIMAN, Utah, June 1, 2024 (Gephardt Daily) — A second man has been arrested in connection with the stabbing death of a 16-year-old boy in Herriman.

Hunter John Armstrong, 18, was arrested Thursday afternoon by Herriman City Police for investigation of aggravated assault resulting in serious bodily injury, a second-degree felony.

The first person arrested in the case was Keith Tyree McClendon, 19, who was taken into custody early Wednesday evening on the same charge. Police say additional charges are being reviewed by the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office.

McClendon was ordered held without bail. Armstrong was released on his own recognizance.

Chain of events

McClendon's affidavit says police were called to the scene on a report of a bleeding stabbing of a man.

“When officers arrived on scene, emergency services had attempted life-saving efforts, but the victim, a 16-year-old male (juvenile victim 1), was pronounced dead. The apparent injury was a puncture wound to the center of his chest that appeared consistent with a stab wound.

Police have not released the name of the victim (hereinafter referred to as Minor Victim 1), so Gephardt Daily is not sharing it either.

Early in the investigation, a lead led Herriman and South Jordan police investigators to a Riverton residence where a white Audi passenger car believed to be involved in the stabbing incident , was in the alley. South Jordan police were in the area to increase security at a graduation ceremony at a school attended by some of the boys.

Armstrong's probable cause statement said the victim was with a friend, who remained at the scene of the death when police arrived. The victim's friend is identified in the probable cause statement as “Keith.”

“Keith stated that he planned to attack a 17-year-old (hereinafter referred to as Male Juvenile 2) because they had an ongoing rivalry against each other,” Armstrong's probable cause statement reads .

“Keith said he recruited three others,” including Armstrong, another man who has not been charged, and Juvenile Victim 1.

McClendon, Armstrong, the unindicted male and juvenile victim 1 located juvenile male 2's vehicle, according to charging documents. According to an earlier press release, an 18-year-old woman was in the car with Young Man 2 at the time of the attack.

When the car was found, a SWAT response was conducted and police learned that the woman and male 2 were not in the vehicle and had been transported to an area hospital for treatment.

At the time of the attack, Armstrong stood in front of Young Man 2's vehicle to prevent him from leaving while others attacked the boy, his affidavit states.

The targeted boy was beaten and bloodied. He returned fire and minor victim 1, aged 16, was fatally injured.

“Such was the severity of the attack that when Hunter and (the uncharged man) saw the seriousness of the attack, they chose to leave in (the uncharged man's car). During the attack, the 16-year-old was stabbed in the chest and died from his injury,” Armstrong’s affidavit states.

“Although at this time Hunter has not been charged with participating in the physical attack on (Young Man 2), he conspired with Keith and others to assist in the attack and s ensure that it takes place. His actions were quite serious since one of the attackers was fatally stabbed during this incident.

Gephardt Daily will have more information on this story as the case develops.