2nd man sentenced to at least 36 years for 2021 fatal shooting in Kearns

SALT LAKE CITY — Shan Garcia-Mendoza said her husband was her high school sweetheart, the father of their two kids, and a kind man who was always helping others.

"Everything is dull without Alonso," she said at a Jan. 22 hearing for Jonathan Montrail Johnson, one of the men convicted of her husband's murder.

Johnson, 23, was sentenced Thursday to at least 36 years, and up to life, in the Utah State Prison for his role in the 2021 fatal shooting that ended in 32-year-old Alonso Garcia-Mendoza's death.

Johnson received 15 years to life in prison for murder, three sentences of five years to life for discharge of a firearm, and five years to life for aggravated robbery, all first-degree felonies. In addition, he received two sentences of three to 15 years for discharge of a firearm, a second-degree felony; and six sentences of three to five years for discharge of a firearm, a third-degree felony.

Many of those sentences were ordered to be served consecutively, including the sentence for murder, but some sentences for felony discharge of a firearm will be served concurrently with similar sentences.

Shan Garcia-Mendoza said she hoped Johnson would get as much time as possible in prison without parole because her family won't get their husband and father back.

"He does not deserve to get out anytime soon; he took a life and feels no remorse," she said.

Alonso Garcia-Mendoza's children and mother also spoke about how his loss has changed their lives during the Jan. 22 hearing. At that point, 3rd District Judge Coral Sanchez determined errors in the pre-sentence report for Johnson were too extensive to move forward with and needed to be fixed before he was sentenced.

On March 9, 2021, Alonso Garcia-Mendoza and two of his friends went to a church parking lot at 5305 W. 5400 South in Kearns, believing they would be participating in a drug deal, according to charging documents.

But when they got there, Johnson, Shihab Wesaga and two juveniles instead shot the three victims during an apparent robbery attempt, the charges state. Alonso Garcia-Mendoza was killed and one of the friends went to the hospital in critical condition for two collapsed lungs; another friend was shot in the hand and suffered facial injuries when the car he was in crashed as he tried to drive away after being shot.

Between three and four bullet holes were found in the car windshield, and 12 shell casings were found in the parking lot, charges state.

A statement from Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill said the judge "sent a strong message" with Thursday's sentence.

"Gun violence not only affects the victim and their loved ones, but it affects our entire community," he said. "This sentence cannot bring the victim back, but it can help deliver some measure of justice for his loved ones and our community."

Johnson was found guilty of the murder during a jury trial last fall.

Shan Garcia-Mendoza also read a note from her son about how he misses waking up to hugs from his dad and playing video games with him.

"I wish I could see my dad's big smile when I would get awards," he said.

A statement from Alonso Garcia-Mendoza's mother, read by his sister, said the violent act has left the family "permanently damaged," especially his children. The mother said it is sad to see her children dealing with guilt for not saying goodbye to him.

"Damaging a family beyond repair by his actions, there is no remedy for," she said. "We can only hold on."

2nd man convicted in 2021 Kearns church parking shooting that killed 1

A second man has been convicted of murder and aggravated robbery for a 2021 shooting in Kearns that killed one and injured two others.

She said the trial was emotionally and physically draining to the family, and she expressed a hope that images of her son's body would remind Johnson of what he took from them.

"The bullets that went through my son not only cost him physical pain and fear, it erased a lifetime of future he had looked so forward to with his family," she said.

In May, Wesaga was sentenced to at least 36 years and up to life in prison after he was also found guilty by a jury.

The two individuals with Wesaga and Johnson faced charges in Utah's juvenile court related to the incident.

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