Man found guilty of killing 21-year-old at Salt Lake City homeless camp

A 35-year-old man was convicted on Tuesday of aggravated murder and kidnapping after prosecutors said he shot dead a 21-year-old man in April 2021.

Court documents state that on April 26, 2021, Salt Lake City resident William Henry Clark confronted Ryan Prendergast outside of a tent at a homeless camp at 900 South and 500 West.

Clark’s ex-girlfriend was living in the tent with Prendergast when Clark approached her and threatened to fire his gun if the woman didn’t come out of the tent, the documents say.

When the woman came out, Clark put a gun to her cheek and said to “shoot her right away,” then told her to get in his car. Prendergast left the tent when the woman refused, and Clark shot him and left the scene, according to indictment documents.

First responders took Prendergast to a local hospital, where he later died.

“Mr. Clark is a violent criminal who now has the potential to spend the rest of his life in prison,” Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill said in a statement. “He can no longer pose a threat to our community.”

Clark was convicted of aggravated murder, aggravated kidnapping with aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm by a disabled person.

He faces life in prison without the possibility of parole at his sentencing hearing, currently scheduled for May 22, prosecutors say.