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MILLCREEK — A third person has been arrested in connection with the shooting death of an 18-year-old man at the Mount Olympus trailhead.
Alex Daniel Ruiz-Martinez, 19, of West Valley, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on Thursday. By Friday afternoon, he was charged in 3rd District Court with murder, a first-degree felony; and aggravated assault, a third-degree felony.
Ruiz-Martinez's arrest comes on the heels of two others. Mateo Heriberto Martinez, 20, and a 15-year-old boy were arrested on Monday for investigation of the same charges. Martinez is listed as a co-defendant of Ruiz-Martinez in court documents, but as of Friday had not been formally charged himself.
The group is accused of shooting and killing 18-year-old Naod Welday, of Millcreek, on Aug. 3 about 4:30 a.m. at the Mount Olympus trailhead parking lot at 5425 S. Wasatch Blvd. Welday was with two friends, ages 18 and 24, who locked themselves inside their car after police say he and his friends got into an altercation with four other males in the parking lot.
"These suspects forced their way into the locked car by breaking windows and opening the door from the inside. During the altercation, (Welday) was shot numerous times and died on scene," the affidavit states. "During the 911 call, multiple people could be heard banging on the windows demanding entry into the vehicle.
"Windows could be heard getting broken. You could then hear the males in the vehicle being assaulted and screaming/crying. Then it sounds like there were three to four gunshots. Then there is nothing more heard."
Another man was attacked with a hammer and suffered a head wound, according to police. A second man was punched several times.
After Ruiz-Martinez was identified as someone suspected of being involved in the killing, Salt Lake County sheriff's detectives spotted and arrested him during a traffic stop near 8400 South and 1650 West on Thursday just before 5:30 p.m. He was in possession of a firearm at the time of his arrest, according to a police booking affidavit.
Detectives on Friday said they are investigating the possible involvement of a fourth person.
"We remain dedicated to ensuring all those responsible for this homicide are brought to justice. Our deputies and detectives continue to work hard on this case. Their efforts have paid off with another successful arrest," Sheriff Rosie Rivera said Friday.
All three males arrested are documented gang members, according to police. But police do not believe Welday and his friends are gang members or have any involvement with gangs. A motive for the shooting was still under investigation Friday.
Anyone with information that could help is asked to call the sheriff's office at 801-840-4000.
