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SALT LAKE CITY — Now 18 years old, a Magna man has been ordered to stand trial for a fatal gang-related shooting that police say he carried out when he was 17.
Joe Perez is charged with murder, a first-degree felony, as well as obstruction of justice, a second-degree felony. He is also charged with eight counts of illegal discharge of a firearm, two of which are first-degree felonies and six of which second-degree felonies.
Perez was charged as an adult earlier this year in the gang-related shooting death of 40-year-old Carlos Martinez. In a preliminary hearing Friday, 3rd District Judge Randall Skanchy ordered Perez to stand trial on all counts.
Police say Perez and another man got into an argument with Martinez on May 4, 2014, about "gang representation" in the area. Perez got a ride back to the neighborhood later in the day with Skyler Burnasconi, 19, of Magna, firing at Martinez when he came out of his house, 3807 S. Armoridge Lane (8180 West), according to police.
Burnasconi drove Perez away from the scene and Perez hid the gun used in the shooting in Burnasconi's car until the next day, charging documents state.
Burnasconi, who testified during Friday's preliminary hearing, is not charged in connection with the shooting.
Arraignment for Perez has been set for Nov. 2.
