- Funeral services for Mason Caballero, 16, killed in an Ogden shooting on Oct. 7, were held Monday.
- The Ben Lomond High School student was active in school matters and a member of the Junior ROTC, according to his obituary.
- Isaias Carranza, also 16, was arrested on Saturday and is charged with aggravated murder.
OGDEN — The Ben Lomond High student killed in the shooting last week in Ogden belonged to a Junior ROTC program, had a big heart and sometimes ate an entire chicken as an after-school snack.
Mason Caballero, 16, was shot and killed last week in an Ogden neighborhood after the car he was riding in came under fire from one or two gunmen giving chase to the vehicle in a separate car, according to police. One of the suspected gunmen, Isaias Carranza, also 16, was arrested Saturday and is charged as an adult in 2nd District Court in Ogden with aggravated murder and 28 other criminal charges.
Carranza was affiliated with a gang, charging documents say, and the charges he faces carry potential gang enhancement penalties. But the documents don't offer a reason for the incident or provide insight into Caballero and the two others in the car with him. Caballero's online obituary, however, describes the teen as active in school matters and a member of the Junior ROTC. Apart from his work at Ben Lomond High School, he studied at Ogden-Weber Technical College, which offers vocational classes to high school students.
"He was polite and kind, always saying, 'Yes, sir,' and 'Yes, ma'am,'" reads his obit on the Lindquist's Mortuary website. Funeral services were held Monday for Caballero in Ogden.
The obituary says he could eat an entire rotisserie chicken as a snack after school and that he was an aficionado of the online game slither.io, in which participants guide a snake to eat pellets that make it grow bigger and longer. "His heart was huge, and he loved sharing music and going to movies with his brothers. Mason gave the best hugs, coming and going. We remember that he was humble, generous and so, so chill," the obit reads.
The fatal shooting on Oct. 7, which occurred adjacent to Highland Junior High School and about a half mile from the Ben Lomond High's campus, was called into authorities about 2:45 p.m., 10 minutes after classes at the high school had ended. Carranza, while driving along Gramercy Avenue near Highland, was firing a weapon at the car in front containing Caballero, seated in the back, and two others in the front seats, according to charges. A bullet entered the trunk of the vehicle in which Caballero was traveling, striking and killing him.
Investigators found 25 fired casings in all, including 14 in front of the ex-Bonneville Elementary School building, which now houses another program geared to older students, and eight in front of Highland just to the north. Court documents reference a second possible gunman in the car with Carranza, who had attended Ogden High School, but authorities haven't provided additional details. Video that investigators reviewed "revealed that the front seat passenger had his right arm out of his window, pointing a handgun at the victims as well, presumably firing rounds" at their car.
A bomb threat last week and Caballero's death prompted shock and alarm among many in the Ogden School District community. "This heartbreaking loss continues to weigh heavily on our community, and our thoughts are with the student's family, friends, classmates and all who have been affected," reads a letter sent Friday by Superintendent Luke Rasmussen to the district community.
Rasmussen went on, emphasizing that Ogden schools are safe.
"This tragic incident occurred off school property and after school hours. There is no evidence to suggest that any students or school employees were ever in danger at school in relation to this event. Our school safety systems remain in place, and we will continue to work closely with local law enforcement to ensure the ongoing safety and security of our campuses," Rasmussen wrote.
While family didn't speak to the media at Monday's funeral, the ceremony drew a large crowd. "What you can say about this marvelous young man is that he lived a gloriously good life, full of love, and will be held in the hearts of all who loved him," reads the obituary for Caballero.
