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NEPHI — Three people arrested over the weekend in Juab County during a drug investigation are now believed to have conspired to kill a fourth person who was with one of the suspects.
Jordan Lindsay Mendoza, 35, Tyler Lester Perry, 20, and Gavino Santana Rich, 18, were arrested Friday and booked into the Juab County Jail for investigation of drug possession.
Tuesday, an attempted murder allegation was added to each suspect's booking sheet.
The investigation began about 5:30 a.m. Friday when Tristan Scott Edmonson, 27, entered a convenience store in Nephi and "was bleeding and seemed confused," according to a police booking affidavit. Edmonson claimed he was driving a Toyota Highlander when "three of his car windows were shot out and that he was shot at in a field somewhere."
He said he was driving back to Los Angeles with Mendoza; she was driving while he was asleep in the passenger seat.
"When Tristan woke up, they were parked in a field. Jordan was telling him that the car was knocking and leaking oil," the affidavit states. Edmondson got into the driver's seat and was able to start the car. But as soon as he did, "someone began shooting at him."
Edmonson told police he sped away, got to the freeway and drove over 100 mph until he could find the nearest gas station.
Nephi police officers responded to the gas station and found "Tristan had injuries and was bleeding from his neck, head and wrists. Medical responded and treated Tristan. It was determined that Tristan did not need to be transported to the hospital," according to the affidavit.
Officers found Mendoza's purse inside the Toyota that Edmondson was driving and began "pinging" her phone. Investigators also learned another vehicle registered to Mendoza was spotted in Mona, the affidavit states.
"Santaquin police ended up locating Jordan's vehicle traveling north on I-15. A felony stop was conducted where Jordan and two male suspects later identified as Tyler and Gavino were taken into custody. In the rear of the vehicle, AR-15 style weapons were located in plain view. The weapons had bandanas covering parts of the gun where your hands would be while firing the weapons," the affidavit says.
Officers drove Edmonson to various locations between Mona and Nephi to try and locate where the shooting took place. They noted he "was helpful to officers at first, then eventually stopped complying with officers and requested that he have an attorney present for any further interaction," according to the arrest report.
When police ran a background check on Edmonson, they learned he had four warrants out of Georgia for several violations, including assault. A search warrant was obtained for the Highlander he was driving and 1 kilo of cocaine was found, the affidavit states.
Edmondson was arrested for investigation of drug possession with intent to distribute and marijuana possession.
As detectives continued their investigation over the weekend, they learned the Toyota was a rental and were able to obtain its GPS data, which showed it stopping in the small town of Rocky Ridge in Juab County.
"It is believed that this is around the time the shooting took place and what happened as Tristan described," the affidavit states. "After Tristan found out about Jordan's vehicle that was registered to her being in Mona right before they got there is when Tristan suggested that Jordan set him up with her friends to rob him. Tristan claimed to have around $4,000 in cash under the passenger side of the rental vehicle."
After an extensive search, Juab County sheriff's deputies found where the shooting happened and "located foot impressions in the dirt that match Tyler and Gavino's shoes," according to the affidavit, as well as four shell casings.
"I believe Jordan was communicating with Tyler and Gavino while they were driving Jordan's vehicle. I believe Jordan was conspiring with Tyler and Gavino," a deputy wrote in the affidavit.
