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WEST VALLEY CITY — A man suspected of breaking into a home looking for drugs has died from injuries delivered by the homeowner, police said Friday.
Three armed men arrived at the home, 7133 W. Chula Drive (3705 South), about 5:15 a.m. Wednesday, and one man went inside, according to police. The homeowner reportedly knocked out the gunman while an 8-year-old called 911, and the remaining two men ran off.
Police have not identified the other two men and were continuing a search for them Friday.
The unconscious man, 29-year-old Robert Ebere, was bleeding from his mouth and was taken from the home in critical condition, police said. He died from his injuries about 12:30 p.m. Friday, police reported.
The three armed men reportedly went to the home to attempt a "drug rip," police said. A man who lives in the house encountered the men when he went outside to warm up his car and chased Ebere as he ran in through the front door.
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A homeowner knocked an intruder out cold Wednesday morning, causing two other armed men to run off.Ebere had one of the women in the house at gunpoint when the man and his brother, Javier Mendoza-Trujillo, attempted to fight him off. Mendoza-Trujillo put Ebere in a choke hold and held him until he stopped resisting.
Ebere had industrial-size zip ties in his backpack, implying he intended to bind the people in the home and rob it, police said.
Investigators obtained a search warrant, seized several vehicles at the home and located 9 pounds of cocaine and a large amount of cash inside the house.
Police are seeking federal drug distribution charges against Mendoza-Trujillo.
The Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office is also being consulted about possible charges related to Ebere's death, though West Valley City Police Sgt. Jason Hauer said he doesn't believe any charges will be filed.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact West Valley City police at 801-840-4000.
Video Contributing: Andrew Wittenberg
