Police identify 3 arrested in connection with July shooting death of Neko Jardine

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WEST VALLEY CITY — Three people have been arrested in connection with the July death of 19-year-old Neko Jardine, police say.

They were identified as Jose Joel Nunez Perez, 18, Arnol Francisco Perez-Zelaya, 21, and Luis Sebastian-Enciso, 19, according to a news release from West Valley City police.

Investigators are trying to determine if there are more suspects connected to the shooting, which took place July 14 in West Valley City, according to a tweet from the agency. Detectives currently are investigating two people who are already in custody in unrelated cases to determine if they have any connection to Jardine's death, according to the release.

Jardine was shot and killed outside a house at 5625 W. 4360 South while he was attending a party, according to police. Detectives believe a group of people showed up at the house who had an ongoing dispute with someone who lived there, according to police.

That person was not at the home, but a confrontation ensued anyway, with 10 to 12 shots being fired, according to police.

Another person was shot and injured, and one person was treated for a cut they received during the fight, police said.

Police determined that two 9mm guns were used in the shooting, according to the release.

Perez drives a car that matches the description of one investigators believed was involved in the Jardine shooting, the release states. Forensic analysis links him, as well as Perez-Zelaya and Sebastian-Enciso to the case, police said.

Perez's affidavit of probable cause says the bullet casings recovered from the shooting were later connected to three separate shootings throughout the Salt Lake Valley on Aug. 24, Aug. 25 and Sept. 14.

Inside the home where Sebastian-Enciso was arrested, police discovered two guns, one of which was determined to be a stolen 9mm gun, the release states.

According to jail records, Perez was booked into Salt Lake County Jail on Wednesday on investigation of murder and obstruction of justice; Perez-Zelaya was booked into jail on investigation of murder and aggravated assault; and Sebastian-Enciso was jailed on investigation of murder and aggravated burglary.

Police estimated that 30-40 people attended the party, and 15-20 may have been outside and were possible witnesses to the shooting, according to the release; however, many of those potential witnesses fled the scene before police arrived and have not yet come forward to investigators with any information.