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KEARNS — Police have arrested a fourth person in connection with the shooting death of a man at a church parking lot in Kearns.
Shihab Wesaga, 18, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on Monday for investigation of aggravated murder, aggravated robbery, and 12 counts of illegal discharge of a firearm.
He is accused of being one of four people who participated in the fatal shooting of Alonso Gerardo Garcia-Mendoza, 32, and the wounding of two others during a robbery attempt, according to police.
Jonathan Montrail Johnson, 20, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail Friday for investigation of aggravated murder, aggravated robbery and 12 counts of shooting at another person. Two boys, ages 17 and 15, were also been taken into custody and booked into juvenile detention.
According to police, Johnson, Wesaga and the two teenagers had arranged to meet for a drug deal with Garcia-Mendoza and his two associates, but had planned to rob the three men once they got there.
On March 9, the two groups met in the parking lot of a meetinghouse of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 5305 W. 5400 South. Johnson and Wesaga opened fire on Garcia-Mendoza's vehicle while he was still in his car, according to a police affidavit. Garcia-Mendoza tried to drive away, but crashed into a wall a short distance later, apparently too injured to drive.
Two other men with Garcia-Mendoza suffered non-life threatening injuries. A large sum of money was found by police in Garcia-Mendoza's car.
Wesaga ran from the scene after the shooting and was not found by police. After detectives identified him as the fourth suspect, "contact was eventually made with family members of Wesaga," the affidavit states.
On Monday, family members contacted police and helped arrange for him to surrender.
No formal criminal charges have been filed in the case so far.
