ST. GEORGE, Utah — Police say a fight in a Panda Express parking lot on Sunday afternoon ended with a 19-year-old DoorDash delivery driver being shot . The incident unfolded just after 2 p.m. outside the restaurant at 1091 North Bluff Street, where officers responded to multiple reports of shots fired . The victim, identified as 19-year-old DoorDash courier Aiden Gonzalez, suffered a single gunshot wound to the abdomen and was rushed to a local hospital . He underwent surgery for his injuries, though his post-surgery condition has not been released .
According to a police affidavit, Gonzalez had gotten into a physical altercation with another man in the parking lot moments before the shooting . The suspected gunman, 19-year-old Jesus Rafael Salcido Felix, had been dining at the Panda Express with his girlfriend and young child and was leaving as Gonzalez and his girlfriend arrived to pick up a DoorDash order. Gonzalez went back outside and confronted Salcido Felix, and the two began fighting, though it’s unclear what sparked the dispute.
During the scuffle, Salcido Felix allegedly lifted his shirt to reveal a handgun tucked into his waistband. The fight continued until Salcido Felix drew the weapon and fired once, hitting Gonzalez just below the ribcage, according to the affidavit . The shooter then fled the scene as bystanders called 911. Detectives later recovered a 9mm shell casing at the site and say the round entered under Gonzalez’s right rib and traveled upward into his chest
Suspect Arrested
Police said Salcido Felix fled the scene with his family but later turned himself in after being contacted through his girlfriend. He was booked into the Washington County Purgatory Correctional Facility and faces felony charges, including discharge of a firearm causing serious injury and aggravated assault.
Authorities are still investigating the motive for the confrontation and have not confirmed whether the two men knew each other before the incident.
Safety Concerns for Delivery Workers
The case highlights ongoing safety concerns for gig workers who spend long hours on the road and often interact with strangers in public places. Delivery drivers have reported increasing risks ranging from verbal harassment to robberies and violent attacks.
Food delivery companies have added in-app emergency features in recent years, such as quick 911 access and location sharing, but many drivers continue to say they feel vulnerable while working.
As Gonzalez recovers, the shooting in St. George underscores the dangers gig workers can face.
Source: Megan Brugger, KJZZ, “Man accused of shooting DoorDash driver outside St. George Panda Express”
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