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SOUTH JORDAN — Police took at least 52 pieces of evidence out of a South Jordan home where a man was shot and killed on Thanksgiving morning, including guns, a lot of ammunition, bullet casings and drugs.
But the investigations into the deaths of Efrain Castro, 23, of West Jordan, and Joshua Perez-Garcia, 26, of Kearns, continued Thursday with no new answers as detectives wait for evidence to be tested.
Castro was one of three men who was shot about 2:30 a.m. on Nov. 28 during a large house party near the South Jordan Parkway and the Mountain View Corridor. Castro, who investigators believe was the intended target, was shot between eight and 12 times, according to South Jordan police. The other two victims were each shot once and were likely “collateral damage,” police said.
Two weeks later, investigators announced that Castro had died from his injuries.
Then, on the morning of Dec. 2, construction workers returning to work in a new residential subdivision after the holiday weekend discovered the body of Perez-Garcia in a field near 11000 South and 6200 West. Police confirmed that Perez-Garcia was their main suspect in the shooting.
His death is considered suspicious and he did have at least one gunshot wound that police believe he received at the Thanksgiving party. But detectives do not believe the shooting injury would have caused his death.
Police believe Perez-Garcia and Castro had a history with each other, and while at the party, Perez-Garcia opened fire on him while in the kitchen.
Related:
Police identify body found near construction site in South Jordan
Police have identified a body found near a construction site in South Jordan as that of a man accused of opening fire at a nearby apartment on Thanksgiving Day.The first arriving officers at the home found “blood and bullet holes ... in the main living area of the second floor,” according to a search warrant affidavit.
Witnesses told police that the gun allegedly used by Perez-Garcia was outside the house. Detectives located a gun “sitting on the fence, southwest of the front door,” the warrant states.
That's when investigators learned there may be more firearms inside the residence.
In total, police found five handguns and one rifle, including a B.F.I. Windham, model BACR rifle “with scope, tac-light,” the affidavit states. Police also seized many loaded gun magazines and several live rounds throughout the house.
In addition, a “box containing upper rifle parts, numerous magazines and ammunition” was located in a bedroom closet and the butt end of a rifle was found on a shelf in another bedroom, according to the warrant.
At least eight shell casings were found in the kitchen area and an empty magazine near the kitchen table, according to the warrant. A ninth casing was found in the kitchen sink, the affidavit states.
Four bullets were removed from walls. Drugs and drug paraphernalia were also seized, according to police.
