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OGDEN — An Ogden man has been charged with killing a man at a weekend birthday party in Roy.
Ruben Alvarado Nava III, 40, was charged Wednesday with murder, a first-degree felony. He was also charged with four third-degree felonies: three counts of felony discharge of a firearm, and use of a firearm by a restricted person.
Officers arrived at a Roy home, 4635 S. 2950 West, about 12:25 a.m. Sunday to investigate reports of shots fired. They discovered that Mario Francisco Saucedo, 23, had been shot in the chest. He was pronounced dead at McKay Dee Hospital.
About 25 people were attending a surprise birthday party for homeowner Samantha Martinez when a fight broke out and Samatha and Rudolph Martinez asked the guests to leave, a police affidavit filed in 2nd District Court states. One witness told police that he was standing with Saucedo and three others when Nava approached and fired shots at the group.
The witness said he punched Nava in the face while he was holding the gun, but Nava told him "that his beef is not with him," the affidavit states.
Nava left the party and went to a friend's house where he called a cab. In a conversation with the taxi driver who told him his company would be hiring soon, Nava said he "made a major mistake and really messed up so he wouldn't be able to work" for the company, according to the court document.
Another witness at the party told police that Nava said "something bad might happen and that if anything did happen, not to worry about him," the affidavit states.
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Police arrested the owners of a home where a man was shot early Sunday.Police arrested Nava Monday at an apartment in Clearfield. Officers said he told them he went outside to break up a fight when "an unknown person" handed him a gun. Nava said he was confronted by Saucedo and his friends. He then pulled out a gun to try and scare them and it discharged, according to court documents.
"When asked how it is an accident to fire three rounds, Ruben said ... that is not an accident," police wrote.
Gang detectives identified Nava as a member of the El Monte Florez SUR 13 gang and Saucedo was part of the Ogden Trece gang.
Nava's criminal history includes convictions for forgery, joyriding, drug possession, assault and domestic violence. Saucedo also had a criminal past. In 2007 he was sentenced to up to five years in the Utah State Prison for firing a gun from the freeway and assault on a police officer. He was also charged in February with arranging to distribute meth, a first-degree felony, and violating the city's gang ordinance. He was scheduled to go on trial in November.
Rudolph and Samantha Martinez were arrested Monday for investigation of obstruction of justice. No charges had been filed against them as of Friday afternoon.
