Man charged with robbing teen of shoes at gunpoint

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SALT LAKE CITY — A man who police say robbed a teenager of his shoes at gunpoint was charged Tuesday.

Keshab Bhattarai, 18, was charged in 3rd District Court with aggravated robbery, a first-degree felony.

About 2:15 p.m. Saturday, Bhattarai and two others confronted a 15-year-old boy who was waiting for a train at 2225 S. 500 East, according to charging documents. The men told the boy “they liked his shoes,” and then told him to follow them to a nearby alley, the charges state.

As he followed the men, one of them pulled out a handgun and demanded he hand over the Nike Air Max shoes he was wearing, according to police.

After being robbed, the boy called his mother who picked him up, and then drove around the area looking for the men who robbed him, the charges state.

A few blocks away, they spotted Bhattarai still carrying the boy's shoes, according to the charges. When Bhattarai saw the boy, his mother and the mother’s boyfriend, he dropped the shoes and ran, but then fired a shot at the group as they continued to walk toward him, the charges state. No one was injured.

Salt Lake police used surveillance video from nearby businesses and the train station to help identify the gunman, who was wearing a “distinctive red Gucci fanny pack,” according to charging documents.

Bhattarai is homeless and a documented gang member, according to the charges.

It was not immediately known if charges have been filed against the other two suspects.

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