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SOUTH SALT LAKE — Police have arrested three men in connection with the gang-related shooting death of a man in late June, including at least two who were already facing drug- and weapons- related charges.
Francisco Antonio Colon, 40, of West Valley City, died from a single gunshot wound to his upper body on June 23.
The 18 days since the death have been "quite chaotic," said South Salt Lake police detective Gary Keller. "Our investigators have been out combing the streets trying to identify the individuals involved, and we have in fact identified those individuals and have arrested them."
On Thursday, officers arrested Irving Nunez, 20, of West Valley City; Irvin Esequel Munoz, 19, West Valley City; and Ernesto Navarro, 19, South Salt Lake. The three were arrested without incident and booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of aggravated murder.
"All those individuals played a part in this homicide," Keller said, adding that at least two of the three men fired shots. He did not know Friday which specific individual was directly responsible for Colon's death.
According to a Salt Lake County Jail report, Nunez admitted to detectives that he fired several rounds at the victim's vehicle.
South Salt Lake police found a handgun that they say matched the weapon used in the shooting. Police do not know a motive for the shooting but have determined it was gang-related.
"More information will be coming out in the future," Keller said.
Colon was in the driver's seat of a Chevy Avalanche in late June near 200 East and Helm Avenue (3645 South) when he was shot by someone from another group in a nearby alley, according to investigators.
Seven people were in the truck with Colon — four males and two females between the ages of 13 and 19. A 17-year-old boy in the front seat was also shot, twice in the arm and stomach. He walked away from the scene but was later taken by friends to a hospital.
Police believe members of the group were in some sort of confrontation with another group earlier in the day.
In March, Munoz was charged in 3rd District Court with possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person, a third-degree felony. Munoz was a passenger in a vehicle pulled over by Unified police. Officers found an AK-47 loaded with 28 rounds of ammunition under his seat, according to court records. Munoz told detectives that he had bought the weapon "off the streets" for $200 "for protection since he hangs out with a Surenos gang," charging documents state.
That case was still pending as of Friday. Munoz had been released to Pre-Trial Services pending the outcome of his case, but a warrant was issued in April for failing to attend a court hearing.
In February, Navarro was charged in 3rd District Court with drug distribution, a second-degree felony. In that incident, officers stopped a vehicle Navarro was driving on State Street and could smell Spice, according to court records. Munoz was in the passenger seat. While searching Navarro, investigators found 18 balloons of heroin in his pockets, the charges state, and Spice was also found in the vehicle.
While police were talking to Navarro, Munoz got out of the car and ran, according to court documents. As he was running away, he allegedly dropped a handgun on the street. Munoz was charged with failing to stop at the command of law enforcement and having a loaded firearm in a prohibited area.
In September, Navarro pleaded no contest to misdemeanor assault in Taylorsville Justice Court. He was sentenced to probation, but then failed to attend subsequent court hearings and a warrant was issued for his arrest. He showed up for court on Wednesday.
Most recently, Navarro was the passenger in another traffic stop on June 30. He had a handgun in his waistband at the time, a jail report states. Detectives also questioned Navarro about the homicide at that time and said he gave them "false and misleading statements" about what happened.
