2 charged in Magna shooting that left victim paralyzed, police say

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SALT LAKE CITY — Two men have been charged in connection with a shooting in Magna that left a third man paralyzed.

Guillermo William Herrera, 18, and Juan Ledezma Avila, 19, were both charged Tuesday in 3rd District Court with discharge of a firearm, a first-degree felony; obstructing justice, a second-degree felony; and three counts of discharge of a firearm, a third-degree felony.

On May 26, Unified police responded to a possible shooting in the area of 7200 West and 3500 South and found Chase Barron, 29, in the parking lot of a nearby Reams Food Store, according to charging documents.

“Barron informed the officers that he could not feel his legs and he complained of abdominal pain,” the charges state.

It was determined that Barron was shot in the back, and doctors later confirmed a bullet had struck his spine, according to the charges.

“The hospital staff told him he would no longer be able to walk,” Barron later told detectives, the charges state.

Detectives learned that Barron had gotten into a fight with Herrera and Ledezma at a nearby 7-Eleven. The alleged assailants asked Barron what gang he was from, according to the charges, and then got into a fight with him after. As Barron ran from the store, he heard three shots fired, the charges state. The first two missed him and third struck him in the back.

A 7-Eleven clerk contacted police and told them the men left two backpacks behind. Ammunition was found in one of the backpacks, according to charging documents.

Avila was found near the area and arrested. A gun was recovered in the middle of the road, the charges state.