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SANDY — A man accused of shooting and killing a woman outside a Sandy home and then firing a shot at a second person was charged Tuesday with murder.
Larry Kent Graff, 52, of Sandy, was charged in 3rd District Court with murder and attempted murder, both first-degree felonies.
"Yeah, I did it, I shot her," Graff allegedly told officers as they approached on the driveway at the house, 343 E. Gary Ave. (9560 South).
A witness who was standing outside his trailer just after 7 a.m. on Dec. 18 said he saw "the front door fly open" at Graff's house. "Three people ran out of the house," followed by Graff, who then "stopped in the middle of the front yard and fired five to six shots at two individuals who ran towards the driveway," charging documents state.
One of those fleeing people, Candice Melo, who would have turned 27 the next day, was struck in her head, hip and lower back, according to the charges. She was initially declared dead by the first arriving officers who could not find a pulse or any signs of breathing.
The officers then attended to the gunman and went to make sure there were no other victims inside the house. Later, an officer noticed movement and a subsequent check of Melo detected a faint pulse. She was then taken to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead a few hours later.
"With that much injury, probably, if you're trying to feel the wrist, where most people like to feel, you're not going to feel (a pulse); and the place to go is for the neck, and most people don't know exactly where to go there," said Jamie Troyer, an emergency room nurse not involved in this case.
"Three people ran out of the house," followed by Graff, who then "stopped in the middle of the front yard and fired five to six shots at two individuals who ran towards the driveway," charging documents state.
Sandy Police Sgt. Dean Carriger said the department is reviewing the case and trying to see if there's anything they could have done differently to save Melo. Currently, Sandy officers are able to pronounce someone dead if it's obvious.
"If the officer believes it's an obvious fatality, then they can call off medical," Carriger said.
Charging documents show the third person, Michael Grimsley, told Graff to stop shooting. Graff then "pointed his gun at Mr. Grimsley and fired one time," according to the charges.
Sandy police said there was an argument inside the house and Graff chased both Melo and Grimsley outside.
Even though police say Graff fired at two people running down the driveway, the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office indicated Tuesday that there wasn't enough evidence to charge him with a second count of attempted murder.
Graff was being held in the Salt Lake County Jail Tuesday on $1.5 million bail.
Prior to the shooting, Graff's house had been the target of a drug investigation, according to court documents. On Sept. 5, investigators went through the trash at the residence and found "numerous used syringes" and residue that tested positive for heroin.
A similar search was conducted on Oct. 10. Investigators again found used syringes and residue that tested positive for methamphetamine, a search warrant states.
On Oct. 16, police returned with a search warrant for the house. Detectives reported seizing drug paraphernalia, "counterfeiting items," syringes, heroin, meth and multiple identification cards.
Potential charges in the drug investigation were still pending Tuesday.
