Police Call Murray Paintball Attack and Shooting Hate Crimes

MURRAY, Utah – A paintball shooting, car chase, and shooting with real bullets Tuesday in Murray will be investigated as a hate crime, according to court documents.

Police arrested Andrew Warren Guarino, 33, following the string of events. He was the passenger in a silver BMW that shot paintballs at people in two separate incidents near 100 West Fireclay Avenue.

The victim in the second incident was hit by one of the paintballs.

The court document said, “There were two male subjects in the vehicle a black male in the driver’s seat and a white male in the passenger seat. The victim stated that the driver then took out a handgun, and began shooting at the victim.”

The victim got into his truck with a co-worker and chased the BMW.

The truck ran into the suspects’ car near 3185 South and 27 East. “The victim then stated that the suspect shot at him more. South Salt Lake police department recovered .40 caliber casings and fragments from bullets on the ground,” the affidavit said.

The chase ended at 2700 South and 270 East after the truck hit the BMW and the car was too damaged to continue. The driver fled, the document said, but police did detain Guarino who is from Louisiana.

“The victim stated that he saw both the driver and the passenger with a handgun. There were multiple witnesses that reported to police they saw a grey truck chasing a silver BMW, and heard gunshots. No witness was able to see a firearm or who was shooting. There were also two rounds recovered from the victim’s tire, and there were also two trucks at 3185 south that had damage from being shot at,” the affidavit said.

Police took Guarino to the Murray Police Station where he was interviewed. “The suspect made multiple racist comments regarding the Hispanic victims. He denied having a firearm. The suspect continued stating negative comments about the victims’ nationality, and therefore the assault charge will be enhanced due to it being a Hate Crime.”

Guarino was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail.

Guarino also threatened police, according to the affidavit. “While Subject was being booked into jail, the subject stated that he was going to kill someone, and was going to come after the officers that arrested him. The subject named officers, and stated he was coming for them when he was released and didn’t care if he came back to jail.”

Guarino is charged with felony discharge of a firearm, aggravated assault, and assault.