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WEST VALLEY CITY — Two teenagers have been arrested for investigation of murder in connection with the Jan. 18 shooting that resulted in the death of 15-year-old Irving Alexia Chuba, police said Thursday.
The two 16-year-olds were not identified in an emailed statement from West Valley City spokeswoman Roxeanne Vainuku.
They were both booked into the Salt Lake Valley Detention Center for investigation of murder, Vainuku said.
The shooting took place at about 9:45 p.m. on Jan. 18 near 4100 South Bangerter Highway.
Before the shooting, Chuba was driving in a van with several friends, all in their mid-teens, according to Vainuku.
The group was driving near 3500 South Bangerter Drive when they were confronted by a group in another vehicle, Vainuku said. Chuba, who was driving the van, told the others in the van that he knew the people in the other vehicle, and he began trying to lose them.
The other car then started following the van at a high speed, weaving in and out of traffic and running several red lights, Vainuku said. The cars were driving near 3500 South Bangerter and on 3100 South west of Bangerter Highway.
When Chuba was forced to slow down in the van due to traffic on 4100 South, the other vehicle pulled up to the side of the van, Vainuku said. Someone in the other car fired several gunshots, and at least one bullet hit Chuba. At least one bullet also hit and killed a chihuahua that was also in the van, Vainuku said.
After the shooting, Chuba’s van veered into oncoming traffic on 4100 South and hit another car. No one was injured in that accident, Vainuku said.
The two teenagers who were arrested were in the car that pulled up to Chuba’s van, according to Vainuku. She did not know exactly how many people were in each car.
She said the case has been difficult for investigators because of a lack of information and tips.
“West Valley City police investigators have worked diligently since this crime occurred, employing the most sophisticated and thorough investigative methods,” Vainuku said in the statement. “It is only through their exhaustive efforts that the two juvenile suspects, in this case, were identified, located and arrested.”
