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WEST VALLEY CITY — A Kearns man was charged Wednesday with killing a rival gang member during an assault at a Kohl's store.
Jose Angel Gonzales, 21, told police he stabbed the victim because the man made a derogatory comment about Gonzales' gang, according to charges filed in 3rd District Court.
Gonzales was charged with murder, a first-degree felony; obstructing justice, a second-degree felony; and possession or use of a dangerous weapon by restricted person, a third-degree felony.
The assault took place Aug. 9 at the West Valley City Kohl's, 3031 S. 5600 West. Witnesses said George Davila, 24, entered the store and was followed into the bathroom by Gonzales. Gonzales was heard saying "this is Dog Town," and the two men emerged from the bathroom physically striking each other, the charges state.
This continued into the customer service area, where Davila was seen with a large amount of blood staining the left side of his shirt.
Both men had left the scene before authorities arrived, but police located a black-handled knife on the store floor, the charges state. Davila, of Salt Lake City, was admitted into a nearby hospital with stab wounds and died the following day as a result of his injuries. The cause of death was determined to be a stab wound to the spleen.
Police served a search warrant at Gonzales' residence and located evidence of someone cleaning up blood and a hat that matched one worn in Kohl's surveillance footage, according to prosecutors. Gonzales admitted to police that he stabbed Davila after Davila made a derogatory comment about the gang Dog Town, the charges state.
According to police, Davila was a member of a rival gang Dog Town.
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