SLC man charged with obstructing justice in shooting death of 18-year-old

SLC man charged with obstructing justice in shooting death of 18-year-old

(Laura Seitz/Deseret News)


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SALT LAKE CITY — Police have arrested a man in connection with the shooting death of 18-year-old Gustavo Jarquin last year.

Nathan Andrew Johnson, 37, was charged Sept. 21 in 3rd District Court with obstruction of justice, a second-degree felony. Salt Lake police and local law enforcement arrested Johnson on Sept. 22 in Antioch, California, where he is awaiting extradition to Utah.

Police found Jarquin's body laying face down on the northwest corner of Indiana Avenue and Pueblo Street in Glendale on Sept. 18, 2014, with an apparent gunshot wound.

Police received information in the weeks following the shooting that the gun used in the homicide might be hidden in Johnson's backyard in Salt Lake City, charges state. When police spoke with Johnson on Oct. 7, 2014, he denied knowing Jarquin or anything about the homicide, and claimed he didn't have a cellphone.

An acquaintance of both Jarquin and Johnson told police she received a ride from Johnson in his car the night before Jarquin was found dead. The woman told police Johnson referred to Jarquin as "the homie." Other witnesses told police they saw a light-colored sedan parked in the area just a few hours before Jarquin was found.

A silver Mitsubishi Galant was registered to Johnson at the time of the shooting, according to police.

Police obtained recordings of calls between Johnson and his wife, who was in the Salt Lake County Jail around the time police first spoke with Johnson. In the recordings, Johnson told his wife he had told "them" he didn't have a cellphone because he gave it to his daughter.

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Police attempted to get records from Johnson's cellphone, but they were no longer available.

A search of state court records indicates Johnson has been convicted in Utah of theft, a second-degree felony, and theft by receiving stolen property, a third-degree felony, as well as misdemeanor charges including burglary, attempted vehicle burglary, possession of drug paraphernalia, providing false personal information to police and retail theft.

Police are asking that anyone with information regarding the case call the Salt Lake City Police Department Homicide Unit at 801-799-3753. Email: chlarson@deseretnews.com Twitter: cdlarson15g

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