Today, Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill announced the filing of one count of first-degree felony attempted murder against Sarah Huda Elias or, in the alternative, two counts of first-degree felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, for allegedly shooting M.E., her ex-husband, at a children’s indoor playground.
On May 22, 2026, Salt Lake City Police were called to an alleged custodial dispute at an indoor playground at 1082 South and 300 West. When they arrived, an employee at the business ran out, saying that a male had been shot inside. As the responding officer went inside, he saw M.E. slumped face-down over a bench with visible blood on his person, and he was then rushed to the hospital. A witness told police that the person who had shot the gun was outside behind the store with her children. Police found the defendant and took her into custody.
As part of the investigation, detectives spoke with one employee, A.S., who told them the defendant, and her children are regulars at the business. A.S. allegedly overheard a contentious phone conversation between the defendant, who she assumed to be the defendant’s ex-husband. A.S. asked the defendant to keep it outside if her ex-husband showed up. A short time later, M.E. arrived at the business, and the defendant asked A.S. if she could keep an eye on her children. The defendant looked at A.S. with a smile and said, ”showtime”, then put on her shoes and walked straight towards her ex-husband. Another employee, T.E., told police that the defendant and M.E. were outside for 15 minutes, and when they returned, they were arguing. At one point, T.E. heard M.E. say, “Are you threatening me?” T.E. told police the two left the store again, and when they came back in, M.E. looked scared. M.E. told T.E. that the defendant had just threatened him with a gun and he was calling the police.
When detectives spoke with M.E., he told them about a custody dispute he had had with the defendant over a couple of months. M.E. told detectives that he found the defendant and his kids in the indoor playground. He said he followed the defendant outside the business, where the defendant allegedly told him everyone hates him and allegedly physically assaulted him. M.E. stated that he saw the defendant had a gun, but she struggled to cock it. M.E. stated that he ran back inside the indoor playground and told an employee that the defendant had a gun and to call the police.
Detectives obtained a video from M.E.’s phone showing the defendant walking away from M.E and digging into the front waistband of her pants. The defendant then pulls a gun out and turns towards M.E. The defendant appears to be attempting to rack the slide of the gun and then points the gun at M.E. M.E. runs from the defendant.
Detectives reviewed video surveillance inside the indoor playground. In it, they observed the defendant walk into the business. As the defendant closes the distance to M.E., she reaches toward her waistband, and two loud shots are audible on the recording. M.E. can be heard screaming that he had been shot. M.E. is then observed physically fighting with the defendant.
M.E. stated that words had been exchanged between the two of them, but he did not provoke her into shooting him.
Today, the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office charged the defendant with one count of first-degree felony attempted murder or, in the alternative, two counts of first-degree felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury. The defendant is also charged with four counts of domestic violence in the presence of a child.
“Gun violence is unacceptable, much less in a business made to cater to kids. Our hearts go out to those who witnessed this alleged shooting; we will connect the witnesses and victim with resources that can help them cope with the trauma of such an experience,” said Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill. “We appreciate the thorough investigation conducted by the Salt Lake City Police Department. All persons accused of wrongdoing are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law."