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RICHFIELD — A Sevier County man accused of murdering another man had left the victim at one point during an intense fight, but then returned 15 minutes later and shot him, according to newly unsealed search warrants.
William Gene Muir, 39, of Venice, was charged last month with murder, a first-degree felony, in the Nov. 22 shooting death of David Rioja, 36.
Muir and Rioja got into an argument that day in front of Rijoa's house, 190 E. 155 South in Venice, Sevier County.
Rioja's brother told police he heard the altercation, according to a search warrant affidavit filed in 6th District Court.
"He said he heard the truck leave and within 15 minutes he heard the truck pull in the drive again. This time (the brother) heard his brother say something to the effect of, 'What, you going to shoot me now?'" the affidavit states.
Moments later, Rioja's brother heard three gunshots, then heard the truck "spin its tires" and leave, according to the warrant. An autopsy later showed that Rioja was shot twice.
Three minutes after Rijoa's family called 911, police say Muir also called 911 from his house, located about 10 blocks away, reporting that he had been assaulted with a baseball bat and that he had shot someone. During the call, Muir began crying and handed the phone to his girlfriend to finish the conversation, the warrant states. The girlfriend later told police that Muir had told her "something bad had happened."
(The brother) heard his brother say something to the effect of, 'What, you going to shoot me now?'
–Affidavit
The girlfriend told investigators that prior to calling 911, Muir came into the house, woke her up and told her "he was tired of getting beat up. She said he had a large wound on his head that was bleeding as well as a wound on his right forearm and on the palms of his hands. She said he was going to do something about it," the affidavit states.
Police also found a broken wooden handle, like a handle from an ax, with blood on it at the crime scene, which was possibly used to assault Muir and break the windshield of his vehicle, according to the warrants. Muir, who had visible injuries to his head and face in his Sevier County Jail mugshot, was treated at a local hospital before being booked into jail.
Muir's next scheduled court date is Tuesday.
