Man killed saving woman's life; convict sentenced

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Summary: Ryan Prendergast, 21, was fatally shot in Salt Lake City, Utah, on April 26, 2021, after he tried to stop William Henry Clark, 35, from kidnapping his ex-girlfriend at a downtown encampment. Clark pressed a gun to the woman’s face and fired when Prendergast intervened. A jury convicted Clark of aggravated murder and kidnapping in March, leading to a sentence of at least 41 years to life in prison, reports say.

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SALT LAKE CITY — A Salt Lake City man will serve a minimum of 41 years and up to life in prison after a jury convicted him of fatally shooting a 21-year-old who stepped in to stop him from abducting a former girlfriend.

Public records describe Clark as black

William Henry Clark, 35, received the consecutive sentences from Third District Judge Paul Parker following his March conviction on charges of aggravated murder, aggravated kidnapping and possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person. The aggravated murder and aggravated kidnapping counts are first-degree felonies; the weapons charge is a second-degree felony.

The events trace back to April 26, 2021, when Clark drove to a tent near 900 South and 500 West in downtown Salt Lake City. His ex-girlfriend had been staying there with Ryan Prendergast, 21. Court evidence showed Clark had sent the woman threatening voicemails and messages in the days leading up to the confrontation, including warnings that he would harm her and her friends and a Facebook note stating he would “smash ur new man.”

According to testimony and police accounts presented at trial, Clark began yelling for his ex-girlfriend to come out of the tent or he would start shooting. When she emerged, he pressed a gun to her cheek and told her, “I should shoot you right now,” before ordering her into his car. She refused. Prendergast then exited the tent in an apparent effort to intervene. Clark shot him and drove away.

Prendergast died from the gunshot wound. Clark, who was a convicted felon on probation for prior drug and weapons offenses at the time, fled the scene. Officers later tracked him to a home in Magna, where he surrendered after a 12-hour SWAT standoff involving Salt Lake and Unified police teams.

Prosecutors established that the firearm used in the shooting had been purchased two months earlier by another of Clark’s ex-girlfriends at a pawn shop because Clark himself could not legally buy a gun. The jury deliberated and returned guilty verdicts on all counts after hearing the evidence.

Judge Parker imposed 25 years to life for the murder, 15 years to life for the kidnapping and one to 15 years for the weapons violation, ordering the terms to run back-to-back. A restitution hearing was set for later in the year.

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Suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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