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SALT LAKE CITY — Criminal charges have been filed against three men in connection with the shooting of another man in a Salt Lake park over the weekend.
Yonathan Hernandez-Aguilar, 20, of Salt Lake City, was charged Wednesday in 3rd District Court with discharge of a firearm causing serious injury, aggravated assault resulting in serious injury, and possession of a gun by a restricted person, first-degree felonies; and rioting, a second-degree felony.
Abdiazz Sheikhnoor Ibrahim, 20, and Luis Leal-Vergara, 19, both of Salt Lake City, were each charged with aggravated assault resulting in serious injury, a first-degree felony; and rioting, a second-degree felony.
About 12:15 a.m. Sunday, officers responded to Westpointe Park, 1155 N. Colonel Road (1900 West), on a report of a shooting. They arrived to find a 21-year-old man who had been shot in the arm. Detectives learned that the victim had agreed to meet at the park to fight someone.
The three defendants also "all knowingly showed up to the park to also engage in violent conduct," Salt Lake police stated. Hernandez-Aguilar is accused of shooting the victim. All three suspects were located in Kearns after the shooting and were arrested.
Detectives searching Leal-Vergara's phone found a text message that was sent three minutes before the first 911 call was made, stating that someone had just been "jumped" along with a skull emoji, charging documents state.
Investigators are looking into the possibility that the shooting was in retaliation for an assault the victim committed against another man, according to the charges. Police said Hernandez-Aguilar "has been involved in many shootings in the past and is currently on felony probation."
