Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — A jury determined Shihab Wesaga is guilty of murder after a four-day trial.
The jury began deliberations on April 28 and reached a verdict within about an hour and a half.
Wesaga, 20, was found guilty of murder, four counts of felony discharge of a firearm and aggravated robbery, all first-degree felonies; obstructing justice and three counts of felony discharge of a firearm, all second-degree felonies; and four counts of felony discharge of a firearm, a third-degree felony.
He is one of three people charged with luring three others into a church parking lot in Kearns in 2021 and shooting at them, killing one and critically injuring the two other men. One of those two men was treated for two collapsed lungs at a hospital after being shot in the chest, according to the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office.
On March 9, 2021, Alonso Gerardo Garcia-Mendoza, 32, and two of his friends went to the church parking lot at 5305 W. 5400 South believing they would be participating in a drug deal, according to charging documents.
But when they got there, Wesaga, Jonathan Montrail Johnson, Dalmar Mohamed Abdi, and a boy who was 15 at the time, instead shot the three victims during an apparent robbery attempt, the charges state. Garcia-Mendoza was killed. Charges say Johnson and Wesaga were the gunmen.
Shortly before the trial, police arrested Wesaga's girlfriend to ensure she showed up to testify in the trial.
"Gun violence in our community will not be tolerated. The crimes committed by Mr. Wesaga not only put those involved in danger, but also those who live in the neighborhood where the shooting happened," said Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill.
Wesaga is scheduled to be sentenced on July 6.
Charges are still pending against the other two defendants. Johnson is scheduled for a jury trial beginning Sept. 26 and Abdi's next hearing is a scheduling conference on Oct. 6.
