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SALT LAKE CITY — A man accused of shooting and killing another man for testifying against his friend in 2007 was found guilty of murder Thursday.
Anthony James Prater, 28, was convicted of aggravated murder and obstruction of justice, first-degree felonies; and five counts of discharging a firearm from a vehicle, a third-degree felony, by a jury after seven hours of deliberation. Prater was charged in connection with the Nov. 27, 2007, shooting of Vincent Samora, 35.
Samora had apparently testified against Christopher Archuleta, a Salt Lake man convicted of shooting Samora in the stomach in 2005. Archuleta and Prater were cellmates in the Utah State Prison, according to a search warrant.
Prater fired eight rounds at Samora just after he pulled into the driveway of his mother's home, 1250 W. Glendale Drive (1350 South). Samora was shot in the back and died of his wounds.
Related:
Police arrest suspect in fatal shooting
Police have arrested a suspect accused of murdering a Salt Lake man in a drive-shooting.According to a jail report, a confidential informant stepped forward and identified Prater as the shooter.
Ryan Hall Sheppard, 32, was accused of driving the car used in the shooting and was charged with murder and obstruction of justice, first-degree felonies; and discharging a firearm from a vehicle, a third-degree felony, in connection with Samora's death. He has a review hearing set for March 12.
Donna Quintana, 31, was charged with two counts of first-degree felony obstruction of justice for allegedly disposing of the gun used in the shooting and cleaning fingerprints from the car.
She pleaded guilty to a single count in 2010 and was sentenced to one year in jail and three years' probation.
Prater's sentencing has been scheduled for May 6 in 3rd District Court.
