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VERNAL — Prosecutors filed charges Tuesday against Bruce Silva, accusing him of killing one person and wounding another Saturday in Uintah County.
A no-bail arrest warrant issued Tuesday for Silva charges him with murder and attempted aggravated murder, first-degree felonies; three counts of aggravated assault and possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person, second-degree felonies; and three counts of committing a violent offense in the presence of a child, a class B misdemeanor.
Silva, 23, of Myton, Duchesne County, is accused of fatally shooting James Edward Carey and wounding Jared R. Hurley during a confrontation Saturday at a home near 5000 East and 7000 North in Lapoint.
Prosecutors say Silva had been at the home earlier in the evening and was upset over a broken window in his vehicle. A witness said Silva told the home's occupants that "if he had to come back 'it would not be cool,'" the charges state.
Silva returned to the home about 10:30 p.m. with several individuals armed with baseball bats, witnesses told investigators. People inside the home stepped out onto a covered porch and a shouting match ensued.
At some point, Silva told the people at the home that the area was his "territory," then walked to a member of his group, grabbed a handgun and began firing into the crowd on the porch, court records state.
Carey, 25, was struck once in the head, near his right eye, according to detectives. Hurley, 34, suffered gunshot wounds to his arm and chest.
Investigators recovered shell casings from a .380-caliber weapon outside the home. Witnesses said there were three children at the home under the age of 14 when the shooting occurred.
Silva, a documented gang member, has a history of violent behavior.
He was one of four men charged in 8th District Court following a gang-related riot at a June 2006 carnival in Roosevelt. Silva was charged again in January 2007 with possession of a controlled substance following a traffic stop in Roosevelt. That charge was dismissed after a federal jury convicted Silva of aggravated assault with a dangerous weapon while within Indian Country for the March 2007 gang-related shooting of Quincy Uncasam.
Uncasam survived the shooting. Silva was sentenced to serve three years in federal prison. Then, in April 2010, while Silva was being kept in a holding cell in federal court, he assaulted another prisoner. He pleaded guilty to assault and was sentenced to another six months in federal prison.
Investigators, including agents with the U.S. Marshals Joint Criminal Apprehension Team, are working to locate Silva. On Monday in Salt Lake County they located a white Ford pickup truck Silva was believed to be driving. They also brought in several people for questioning, said Uintah County Undersheriff John Laursen.
Silva's mother told investigators he may be traveling with his girlfriend, 23-year-old Shadow Marie Reed, court documents state.
Silva is described as 5 feet 10 inches tall, 170 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information is asked to call the Uintah County Sheriff's Office at 435-789-4222.
Email:geoff@ubstandard.com
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