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Gene Kennedy reporting An accused murderer who was on the run all night was caught early this morning, far from where a West Valley man was shot and killed.
The suspect is Victor Briones. Police believe he shot a man to death in West Valley yesterday.
Around 4:30 this morning, he was caught in California.
Briones may have been trying to get out of the country. A dispatcher told California troopers that Briones may have been heading for Mexico. Troopers wound up catching him in Barstow, California after he made a crucial mistake.
Sgt. John Pearce, West Valley City P.D.: "Well fortunately it looks like he had been on the road all night. Southern California is quite the distance to be in that short of time."
Victor Briones could have made it if not for a cell phone call. Through GPS technology, authorities tracked him to Interstate 15.
Sgt. John Pearce, West Valley City P.D.: "Detectives had information that he was on his way to Los Angeles. They were able to locate the vehicle in Barstow, California. When officers attempted to stop him, he refused and tried to evade them. They were able to take him into custody."
Thursday, police say Briones argued with a West Valley man in the victim's driveway. They fought over property. Investigators say Briones pulled out a handgun and shot the victim multiples times at close range.
In the aftermath of the crime, an outpouring of grief; a young wife lost her husband. But police, she and others now know Briones is off the streets.
When they caught him, California troopers say they found a gun in his pickup truck. West Valley Police say it is the same caliber as the gun used in yesterday's murder.
What they'll do now is extradite him to Utah as soon as possible. West Valley detectives are leaving for California this afternoon to collect evidence.
