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SALT LAKE CITY — After six hours of deliberation Friday, a jury concluded that a Salt Lake gang member known as Baby Alex is guilty of murder for shooting and killing Emilio Salazar, 28, in 2021.
Alex Christopher Mendoza Jr., 21, was found guilty of shooting Salazar at 1172 W. California Ave. in Salt Lake City shortly after midnight on Jan. 9, 2021. Police found Salazar face down in the driveway of a home he had been visiting. He was taken to a local hospital where he died from his injuries.
The jury found him guilty of murder and discharge of a firearm causing serious injury, first-degree felonies, plus discharge of a firearm causing injury and possession of a weapon by a restricted person, second-degree felonies.
Mendoza's trial began on Tuesday, and in closing arguments Friday, attorneys saw completely different stories in the evidence presented during the week — pulling from different aspects of testimony from multiple people who were at the home when Salazar was shot. Not only did witnesses share different stories from each other, but some witnesses shared stories that differed from what they initially told police. There were multiple small details that differed, like whether Mendoza was invited to the home that night.
The jury trial consistently had over 200 people attending virtually, in addition to 10 people from the victim's family and 10 people supporting Mendoza who were allowed into the courtroom at a time.
At the beginning of the trial, 3rd District Judge Elizabeth Hruby-Mills warned that there should not be any blue or green clothing in the courtroom, or any other flags or support shown for any gang. Mendoza is a known gang member with many police interactions prior to his arrest in the case.
Nick and Rhondi Valdez, who live at the house where Salazar was killed, initially told police it was a drive-by shooting, but testified during the trial that that was not the case. Rhondi Valdez said their story changed once they were no longer afraid of Mendoza coming for revenge, and by telling the truth, she has lost friends and family. She said she was taught not to talk with police officers because talking to officers could get her killed.
The couple both testified that Mendoza was arguing with Salazar at their home, and that Mendoza had claimed Salazar "kissed his dad's hand and he didn't like it." Rhondi Valdez said she didn't understand what the fight was about or what that meant.
Nick Valdez testified that he was scared and in shock and didn't immediately tell police what happened because he had just watched Mendoza murder his friend and didn't want to be murdered.
There were multiple adults at the home prior to the shooting who said they saw what happened or were there, but claimed they were facing the other way when the three shots were fired.
Defense attorney Brad Anderson argued that Nick Valdez is the person who actually shot Salazar. He cited a video showing flashes that he said were likely gunshots that showed a white car that he said was Mendoza's driving past. He said it looked like the body had moved after the shots were fired and that Valdez was the only person who could have moved it because he claimed Mendoza was not there.
Anderson cited other instances where Valdez had shot or threatened to shoot people and he said multiple people testified Valdez was drunk then and acts crazy when he is drunk.
"I've given you the evidence that Alex didn't do this, and it's evidence that doesn't depend on testimony," Anderson said. "Nick did this to his best friend."
Salt Lake County deputy district attorney Adam Blanch noted Valdez had said Salazar was his best friend and was like a brother to him. He said in police interviews at the home that night that Valdez did not act like someone who had just killed his best friend.
Blanch told the jury that looking at all of the evidence would show that Mendoza shot Salazar, and he encouraged jurors to find where there were conflicts and then decide what is most likely scenario. He said the marks on the driveway Anderson was talking about could not have come from Salazar's body being moved and there was no evidence showing the car in the video was Mendoza's.
Blanch also said there were no witnesses who talked about any other people fighting, and that no one else would have had any motive.
Anderson said Mendoza was only at the home for less than half an hour, and did not know Sanchez prior to that. He argued that Mendoza didn't have a motive, either.
Before closing arguments, Anderson asked Hruby-Mills for a directed verdict on many of the charges and said that he didn't think there was enough reliable evidence to support the charges or a conviction. Blanche disagreed, saying Nick and Rhondi Valdez were the only witnesses to make inconsistent statements and that they admitted to lying previously and had believable reasons. Hruby-Mills declined the request for a directed verdict and said there was enough evidence for the jury to decide the case.
Mendoza is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 20.
Contributing: Pat Reavy
