Suspect in deadly Utah spree may have sought car

SANDY, Utah - A man accused of shooting two people to death and wounding three may have been trying to steal a car during his brief, deadly rampage, police said yesterday.

Quinn Martinez, 21, was captured yesterday morning, 12 hours after he allegedly shot a woman at a hotel and four people at a restaurant in this Salt Lake City suburb.

Sandy Police Sgt. Kevin Thacker said Martinez was discovered at a house in nearby Midvale.

"He was trying to get a car," Thacker said. "There may be more to it than that, but he's not willing to talk to us."

Martinez, with earlier convictions for weapons offenses, burglary and armed robbery, was held on suspicion of murder. A hearing had not been scheduled.

He shot a female companion in the leg after arguing over the use of a car Thursday night in a room at the Extended StayAmerica hotel, police Sgt. Michelle Fenley said. The woman, Jamie Lucero, was treated at a hospital and released.

Police said Martinez crossed the street to a Chevys restaurant, where he demanded to use a telephone, then shot and killed the 33-year-old manager, Jason Rasmussen, and wounded an employee.

Josh Parker, 22, was in serious but stable condition yesterday at University of Utah Hospital.

The gunman then ran to the restaurant's parking lot, where he fatally shot Peter Berg, 43, of Ogden, Fenley said.

The assailant then tried to carjack a vehicle driven by Debbie Briggs, shooting her through the windshield, police said.

With a bullet in her jaw and the gunman chasing her car, Briggs drove three blocks to a store. She was helped inside, and an employee locked the door.