WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah-Friday, a 17-year-old boy accused of shooting and killing an 18-year-old man during a confrontation between two groups in West Valley City will stand trial as an adult.
Friday, Deivi Perez Prado Jr. was charged with murder, a first-degree felony, in 3rd District Court.
Prado Jr. was also charged with obstructing justice, a second-degree felony and illegal discharge of a firearm, a third-degree felony.
Prosecutors have since requested Prado Jr. be detained on $1 million bail.
This incident occurred on May 16 when two groups met at Kings Pointe Park in West Valley City, per West Valley City Police spokeswoman Roxeanne Vainuku.
At some point during this confrontation, 18-year-old Lewis Orlando Jensen was shot and killed. Jensen was shot in the chest and died while in surgery at a local hospital, per charging documents.
A witness told authorities his group had arranged to meet Prado at the apartment complex to fight, per charges.
As the two groups started posturing, Prado pulled out a handgun, confirming this situation was what he had obtained the weapon for, per the charges.
Prado fired one round into the air and then Jensen rushed toward him in hopes of grabbing the gun, the charges stated.
Witnesses say Jensen was “only a few feet away” when Prado fired a round at him, striking him in the chest, per the charges.
Next, Prado fled the scene in a Chevrolet truck, which he later sanded and spray-painted to change its appearance.
He then left it at a Taylorsville apartment complex.
Vainuku said a 16-year-old was arrested for investigation of rioting as well.
