Brother of Midvale shooting victim pleads for help finding killer


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MIDVALE — The brother of a Midvale man that was shot to death Sunday is pleading for help in finding the killer.

The shooting happened just before 5:30 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 26 at an apartment complex. Police say they don't know the motive behind the murder.

Court records show the victim, Justen Lefave, had a misdemeanor drug charge several years ago. But his brother doesn't think the shooting was drug related. He thinks someone was after his brother for revenge.

"I didn't want to get up this morning," said brother Jeremiah Lefave. "I wanted to call him."

The brothers were good friends and only seven months ago, they were also roommates.

"He was always there for me, more than anyone in my family and when I had no one and when he had no one, I was there," Jeremiah said.

Justen was shot outside the Midvale apartment where he was staying with friends. Police say someone knocked on the door, a conversation ensued, and then shots were fired.


If anyone had anything bad to say about [Justen], it was because he turned them away because they were not a good person.

–Jeremiah Lefave, victim's brother


"If anyone had anything bad to say about him, it was because he turned them away because they were not a good person," Jeremiah said.

He says Justen would give his last dollar to a neighbor in need. The victim was also a good uncle to his 5- and 7-year-old nephews. Jeremiah doesn't know how to tell his boys that their uncle is gone.

He hopes the shooter, who was with two women, is brought to justice for the murder of his brother.

"To those girls, I'd say, 'How could you live with yourselves being a part of something like this?'" he said. "'I hope you get found and I hope you get found very quickly.'"

Unified police are asking the public to call with any tips. Justen Lefave would have turned 32 years old on Tuesday.

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