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MAGNA — A documented gang member who police say went to a large house party in Magna just to shoot two people, killing both men and also injuring a teenage girl, now faces criminal charges seven months later.
Patrocinio Perez, 19, of Salt Lake City, was charged Friday in 3rd District Court with two counts of aggravated murder and discharge of a firearm causing serious injury, first-degree felonies; plus possession of a weapon by a restricted person and obstructing justice, second-degree felonies.
On Aug. 15, Juan Valentine Rodriguez, 19, and Ivan Valenzuela, 18, were both shot at a house party at 3623 S. Evening Light Cove. A 17-year-old girl was also injured. Police estimate there were between 30 and 50 teens and young adults at the party.
"When officers arrived on scene, they encountered a large group of people fleeing the area. Officers entered the residence and found two males with apparent gunshot wounds," according to charging documents.
Rodriguez was shot in the face and pronounced dead at the scene. Valenzuela was transported to a local hospital but died from his injuries shortly after his arrival. A 17-year-old girl was found with a gunshot wound to her arm.
As Unified police investigated the incident, they said they discovered that Perez had been telling others that he was the gunman.
"Social media records obtained by law enforcement confirmed that Perez had been communicating with others, including documented gang members, that he was responsible for several shootings around the Salt Lake Valley. In an Instagram message, Perez told a friend that he was the person who shot the two victims in Magna," the charges state.
Detectives then obtained information from Snapchat and Uber that confirmed he was near the house party just before and after the killings, according to the charges.
When questioned by police, Perez said had been at another party when he got a ride to the party on Evening Light Cove from a friend.
"His friend stayed in the car and Perez entered the residence. Perez stated he shot Juan first, then Ivan," according to the charges, which also say that he "snuck up on Ivan Valenzuela and Juan Rodriguez and shot both victims because he believed they were talking negative about his homies."
Perez then apparently returned to the first party and went home after that.
According to court records, Perez pleaded guilty to failing to stop for police, a third-degree felony, in January 2021 and was placed on three years of probation.
In June, he was back in the Salt Lake County Jail where he attacked another inmate who was a rival gang member, according to charging documents.
Then in September — about a month after the double homicide occurred — he was arrested and later charged with possession of a weapon by a restricted person and drug possession after being pulled over by police who reported finding guns and drugs in his possession.
Just four days later, he was arrested again and accused of firing at least one round into a group of people at Liberty Park. Perez was indicted federally in September for that incident and has remained in the Salt Lake County Jail since Sept. 12, according to jail records.
Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill issued a prepared statement Friday thanking Unified police for their continued work on the case.
"We asked for the defendant to be held without bail. I want to thank UPD for all of their work in this investigation. The next step is to go to court and prove our case," he said.
Unified police on Friday said they were still looking for additional witnesses to the shooting. Anyone with information is asked to call Unified police at 385-468-9800.
Correction: An earlier version listed Perez's age as 18. He is 19.