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OGDEN — A man accused of shooting and killing another man and leaving the man's body along the Riverdale Parkway Trail was bound over for trial Thursday.
Luciano Silva, 20, was charged in September in 2nd District Court with murder, a first-degree felony; two counts of obstruction of justice, a second-degree felony; and possession of a firearm by a restricted person, a second-degree felony.
On Sept. 13, the body of Horacio "Flaco" Mendez Sanchez, 25, was found along the Riverdale Parkway Trail. It was believed to be the first homicide in Riverdale in 30 years.
Silva told police that earlier that morning, he and Sanchez "went for a walk to go get drugs," according to a Weber County Jail probable cause statement filed in 2nd District Court. Silva was carrying a gun with him at the time.
"As they were walking, (Sanchez) asked (Silva) about his gun and if he could hold it. (Silva) stated that he handed the gun to (Sanchez), and he stated that (Sanchez) took the gun, pointed it at him and told him to give him his money in his pocket," Silva told police, according to the probable cause statement.
Silva was able to knock the gun out of Sanchez's hand, the report states.
"(Silva) stated he picked up the gun as (Sanchez) tried to grab his arm, at which time he elbowed back at (Sanchez), knocking (Sanchez) backward," according to the probable cause statement.
Related:
Police ID man fatally shot on Riverdale trail
On Monday, police identified the 25-year-old man whose body was found on the Riverdale Parkway Trail.Silva then picked up the gun, turned around and saw Sanchez standing up, police said.
"(Silva) pointed the gun at (Sanchez) and fired the handgun one time. (Silva) stated that he was approximately 3 to 4 feet away from (Sanchez) when he shot him. When asked what his feelings and thoughts were just prior to shooting (Sanchez), (Silva) stated he felt comfortable," according to the report.
Silva told detectives that he then threw the gun in a nearby river, went home and put the clothes he was wearing in a backpack under his bed, the report stated.
He did not call police after the shooting.
The Cache County Sheriff's Office notified Riverdale police that Sanchez "had been the focus of a narcotics investigation" that was ongoing at the time of his death, according to the probable cause statement.
After being bound over for trial at the conclusion of Thursday's preliminary hearing in 2nd District Court, Silva entered not guilty pleas for each of the four charges. His next court hearing is scheduled for Jan. 20.
