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WEST VALLEY CITY — A reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest of an alleged parole violator who is also a person of interest in a West Valley police murder investigation.
The U.S. Marshal's Service announced Friday a $2,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Noel Munoz Lopez, 34, of Kearns. Lopez, who was granted parole in March from the Utah State Prison, is wanted by Marshals for allegedly violating the conditions of his parole, although court records do not say what that violation was.
Lopez is also a person of interest in the death of 82-year-old Farrell Bartschi, of West Valley, who was shot and killed on Monday in front of a residence near 3800 South and 4200 West.
Police believe Lopez was in the area at the time of the shooting and has "an association" with the owners of the home that Bartschi was found in front of.
"It is unknown at this time what occurred leading up to the shooting. We can, however, report that the victim in this case has no known association with the people who live inside the home, nor any association with Mr. Lopez," police said in a prepared statement.
Bartschi lived near where the shooting occured.
Lopez is 5-foot-5, 210 pounds, and is bald with a black beard and mustache, according to police. Anyone with information on Lopez can call police at 801-840-4000.
He was convicted in 2007 of attempted murder and three counts of aggravated assault, according to court records. In that case, Lopez shot another man outside a Salt Lake City 7-Eleven store, leaving the victim paralyzed. He was sentenced to four consecutive terms of two to 20 years in the Utah State Prison, court records state.
Anyone with information on Noel is asked to call police, at 801-965-5200.
