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SALT LAKE CITY — A man and woman were arrested Thursday after police say a plan to steal from her ex-boyfriend's apartment turned into the fatal shooting of one of their companions.
Erik Virgen, 18, and Malibu Rose Mawson, 20, were found in Iron County and arrested for investigation of aggravated robbery resulting in serious bodily injury and aggravated burglary, Salt Lake police announced.
On Monday in Salt Lake City, police responded to the report of gunshots and found Anthony Wheatley, 19, dead from multiple gunshot wounds at an apartment at 1636 W. Briar Rose Place.
During the investigation, detectives said they "learned there was a plan between Wheatley, Mawson, Virgen and another person to beat up and steal from one or both people living inside the apartment," police said in a statement.
Mawson told police she saw one of the apartment's residents post on Facebook about having marijuana. She then "arranged the robbery" with Wheatley, according to a police booking affidavit.
One of the residents identified Mawson as a former girlfriend. The other resident said he connected with her on Facebook and invited her to the home. But soon after arriving at the apartment, he told police he walked into the front room and saw three men there, and they "immediately pointed guns at him and began yelling," the affidavit states.
Police said the men began assaulting the resident and "pistol-whipped" him.
When the other resident and his friend returned to the apartment, they heard yelling from inside. When they opened the door, a man pointed a gun at the resident. The resident then "started fighting" with the gunman, according to the affidavit, and the gunman shot the resident in the chest. The resident then picked up a gun from the floor and shot the other man until he was "no longer a threat," court documents state.
During the fight, the other resident said he was able to take a gun from one of the men and shoot him "until he felt safe," the affidavit states.
In total, three people were shot but Wheatley was the only one who died.
Police said the resident who shot one of the burglars "had lacerations and contusions on his body consistent with his account of events."
Investigators found two handguns and several spent shell casings inside the apartment.
One of the residents identified the man who shot him as Virgen and said he knew from when they both lived in a youth home. During that time, the resident said he and Virgen got into several "verbal altercations," police said.
After the shooting, investigators said Virgen and Mawson traveled to Cedar City. Officers in Enoch found and arrested Virgen and Mawson, and Salt Lake police detectives drove them back to Salt Lake City, where they were booked into Salt Lake County Jail.
Investigators said they will continue to work with county attorneys to determine what criminal charges are warranted.
