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Samantha Hayes ReportingThey say his service to the community can't be measured, that he was the kind of man who built bridges between Hispanics and whites. But now Aniceto Armendariz is dead, shot to death on the highway. And police still don't know why.
Prosecutors intend to charge two men arrested in the shooting. The victim is well-known in Wasatch County. Armendariz served hundreds through St. Mary's Catholic Church. He was returning from a church service when he was shot.
Aniceto Armendariz was a deacon at St. Mary's Catholic Church and people who knew him say his door was open to everybody. He and his family lived in Park City for 10 years, and in that time, made the community a better place.
He was always there friends say, a prominent figure in the community and serving as a deacon in the church, but most of the time you could find Aniceto Armendariz with people who needed help.
Joby Sweac, Friend: “Aniceto was such a good example. His whole family was a good example and he will be sorely missed.”
A prayer service for Armendariz was well-attended by the many people he has touched. Friends say he was not the kind of man who made enemies, which makes his murder peculiar and scary.
Father Bob Bussen , St. Mary's Catholic Church: “They have three sons and a daughter. Every one of them is amazing for their ability to invite the English speaking community into their lives and help them become a part of it."
He was returning from an evening Sunday mass with his wife when, police say, a van pulled up to the left of his truck, heading east on U.S. 40. A man fired a shotgun from the van, hitting Armendariz in the head. His wife survived when their truck crashed.
Two men, a father and son, are being held in connection with the shooting.
Josue Armendariz: “I lost my best friend, my dad, I hope everyone knows how good of a man he was."
Father Bob Bussen: “It is a great loss. He was one of the fine, important presences here in town, one of the folks who did good for the community."
Investigators do not believe the shooting was a random act, but they don't know or won't say to what extent the victim and suspects know each other. A public service for Armendariz will be Thursday night and Friday morning at St. Mary's Catholic church.
