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Team coverageSalt Lake Police have arrested four people in connection with a drive-by shooting that left a 7-year-old girl dead. The suspects, three juveniles and one adult, were all booked on first-degree homicide charges.
The violence has saddened and outraged people in the community. There's a constant stream of visitors at the house where 7-year-old Maria Menchaca was shot and killed.
Archie Archuleta said, "It's just really dawning on them what really happened, and they just break down every time you talk to them. Both mom and dad are in terrible shape."
Archuleta didn't know the family but was asked to interpret for them.
"As all families, they get together, they hold things together, they hold each other together," he said.
Maria was playing outside her house near 1100 S. 800 West when gunshots rang out.
"They're saying she was over on that end, and when the shooting started, she ran over this way and got hit," he explained.
Police today arrested three 16-year-olds: Gabriel Magallon, Mae Johnson and Tiona Vigial. Jail documents say one of those teens fired the fatal gunshot.
Two girls, who identified themselves as the victim's cousins, say they know the shooter. "He's been bugging us for a long time," one of the girls said.
They say that the shooter threatened another cousin yesterday, before the shooting. "He had warned someone here that he was going to kill him and his whole family," the victim's relative said.
Police also arrested 20-year-old Frank Benavidez, who, according to jail documents, was driving a black SUV involved in the shooting.
Court records show he has a history of aggravated assault, discharging a firearm from a vehicle and retaliation against a witness or victim. The records also say the court issued a warrant because Benavidez was deported by the INS.
Salt Lake City detective Andy Jackson said those arrested are known gang members.
Police say last night's shooting was a tragic end to a day of gang activity in that neighborhood. They say Maria was probably not the target. Officers say they responded earlier in the day to a gang call in the same neighborhood.
"We all have grandchildren. We all have children, and they play outside, and they are not safe to play."
Jarad Brown, also a resident in the neighborhood where the shooting took place, said, "[I'm] nervous. I'm moving. I'm probably going to move. My father's got a house in Sandy. I'm probably going to go out there."
"This will happen again. It will happen again, I think it's natural," said resident Spring Browing.
Lisa Jefferies also lives in the area and plans to move. She's still dealing with a fatal robbery four months ago at the Family Dollar store, not too far from yesterday's shooting.
"There's too much violence," she said. "I feel like I can't let my children come out and play because of stuff like this."
Police haven't released much information about Maria. Family members say she went to Riley Elementary.
KSL will take a closer look at violent crime in the Glendale community tonight in the Talking Point segment during Eyewitness News at 6:30. Salt Lake City Councilman Van Turner will join us live for our discussion.
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