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WEST JORDAN — A woman who allegedly claimed that she felt pressured into shooting a man is now facing criminal charges.
Aaliyah Melanie Villagrana, 22, of Salt Lake City, was charged Wednesday in 3rd District Court with discharge of gun, a first-degree felony; and obstructing justice, a second-degree felony.
On Oct. 22, just after 5 a.m., West Jordan police responded to a shooting at the Heartland Mountain View Apartments, 7050 S. 1300 West. A man reported that a woman known by her moniker "Soldier" had shot his friend, according to a police booking affidavit. Based on her moniker and description of her face tattoos, police identified the shooter as Villagrana.
However, after police were called, both she and the victim fled the scene, the affidavit states.
"Officers found the victim alive and hiding in a nearby neighborhood, concealed in a trash can. The victim was in critical condition from a bullet wound to the chest and right arm," according to the affidavit.
On Oct. 25, police were able to interview the victim. He said he and two women, including Villagrana, were at his apartment when he began arguing with Villagrana because she believed he had been saying bad things about her.
"The victim reported that while arguing with Aaliyah on the main level of the apartment, Aaliyah pulled out a gun and shot him," the affidavit alleges.
Police located Villagrana the next day and questioned her. She claimed that "the others she was with, at the apartment, made her feel like she had to shoot (the victim)," according to the affidavit.
Villagrana was charged last year in connection with another shooting in Salt Lake City. Two men were shot at a party at 368 W. 900 South on June 12, 2022. Villagrana was charged with two counts of aggravated assault and two counts of discharge of a gun causing injury, second-degree felonies. But the case was dismissed a few months later when prosecutors were unable to proceed, according to court records.
