Utah — A police perimeter was established around a West Jordan hospital on Wednesday following an incident involving a student participating in a popular high school "assassination game."
was arrested and faces one charge of Threat of Terrorism
witnesses at Jordan Valley Hospital told police they saw two people walk inside the building and ask if it was a hospital
One of the men was holding what a witness said appeared to be a gun before both took off running
Surveillance video showed two men or boys entering the hospital
with one holding an object pointed at the other
hospital security personnel asked police if lockdown protocols should be initiated
Because of what police called the "seriousness of the call," officers formed a perimeter around the hospital grounds while others searched the surrounding area for the suspects
"Several hospital visitors approached the officers
asking if it was safe to enter the hospital
as they were frightened," the police report said
When police eventually made contact with White
he admitted to officers that he was "playing a game called Senior Assassination," and that he had chased a friend into the hospital
The weapon in question was a Nerf gun used to "shoot" his friend
unofficial high school activity usually involving seniors who are set to graduate
The players eliminate one another using water or Nerf guns
with the last person remaining declared the winner
whether it's a game or you're taking in a Nerf gun or whether you're taking in what looks like a real gun
how that looks to other people and how much alarm that can cause these types of situations can turn dangerous quickly," said Sgt
Andrew Hercules with the West Jordan Police Department
White was released on his own recognizance and ordered to appear in court at a later date
WEST JORDAN — A popular game among high school seniors resulted in one 18-year-old student being booked into jail Wednesday after police say he caused a panic at a local hospital
The man was playing the "Senior Assassination" game
It's a tradition at many high schools across the nation
where high school seniors traditionally use water guns to track down and "eliminate" other seniors in the days leading up to graduation
police were called to Jordan Valley Hospital
after witnesses reported "two young white males entered the hospital and asked if it was a hospital
The witnesses described one male as appearing to be a high school student who was holding what appeared to be a gun," according to a police booking affidavit
Hospital security called the police and asked whether they should lock down the hospital
"Several officers established a perimeter around the hospital due to the seriousness of the call
Multiple officers were also searching the surrounding area
Several hospital visitors approached the officers
as they were frightened," the affidavit states
Police then reviewed surveillance video from the hospital
I observed two white males running through the hospital doors
The suspect was seen pointing what appeared to be a gun at the other male," the arresting officer wrote
The arrest report does not indicate what was dropped
police made contact with the 18-year-old man
"(He) confirmed that he was playing a game called 'Senior Assassination.' He explained that he was chasing his friend
ultimately leading to both inside the hospital doors
which he used to shoot his friend during the game," according to the affidavit
Due to the panic caused by the man's actions and the police response that resulted from it
the man was arrested and booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of making a threat of terrorism
Utah (KUTV) — A teenager was arrested on suspicion of third-degree felony threat of terrorism after prompting an emergency response at a West Jordan hospital
He later told police he was playing a game called “Senior Assassination” with a friend
West Jordan police responded to Holy Cross Hospital Jordan Valley
following reports of a person with a weapon
officers spoke with two witnesses who said two teenagers had entered the building and asked if it was a hospital
later identified as 18-year-old Miles Kalani White
was described as appearing to be a high school student and was seen holding what looked like a gun
The witnesses added that the pair then ran through the hospital
Hospital security approached officers and asked if they should initiate a lockdown due to the seriousness of the situation
Arrest documents did not disclose whether a lockdown was ordered
Surveillance footage showed two teens running through the hospital doors
White appeared to point what looked like a firearm at the other teen
then drop the object as they exited the building
Police said several officers were deployed around the perimeter of the hospital
while others searched the surrounding area for the teens
Several hospital visitors reportedly expressed fear and asked police if it was safe to enter the facility
who reportedly admitted to playing a game called “Senior Assassination” with a classmate
which he used to shoot his friend inside the building
In March 2025, Lehi police issued a warning about the Assassination Game being played at Skyridge High School
officers said the game “involves students paying a participation fee and being given a neon-colored wristband and then shooting other participating students with water guns
the neon-colored band comes off and that student is out of the game
(The) last student wearing the band collects the money pot.”
“The Assassin's Game is not sanctioned by the school or police
and is not allowed to take place on school grounds
Both Skyridge High School and the Lehi City Police Department discourage participation because of the many problems that we've had during previous years with students driving aggressively/recklessly and trespassing on private property
It can be especially dangerous since many water guns can appear to be a real gun and cause panic among citizens.”
White was booked into the Salt Lake County Metro Jail
Read this article in Spanish and Portuguese:
The rendering shows the projected multistory edifice of approximately 85,000 square feet
the first house of the Lord for the city and one of 32 total temples dedicated
under construction or in planning in the state
The temple will be built on a 16.1-acre parcel in the city’s westernmost region
west of Utah State Highway 111 (also known as Bacchus Highway or 8400 West) at approximately 7147 South U-111
The rendering was first published Monday, April 14, on ChurchofJesusChrist.org
More information for the temple — such as a future groundbreaking date — will be released later
Utah is home to 2.2 million Latter-day Saints in nearly 5,400 congregations
Two of the dedicated houses of the Lord are closed — the Salt Lake Temple for ongoing renovations and the Provo Utah Rock Canyon Temple for reconstruction
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released a rendering of the exterior of the West Jordan Utah Temple on Monday
A groundbreaking date has not yet been released
The West Jordan Utah Temple will be situated on a 16.1-acre lot at approximately 7148 South and west of State Route 111 highway
It’s projected to be 85,000 square feet and will be accompanied by a new meetinghouse
This temple, which was announced by President Russell M. Nelson at the April 2024 general conference
is among 32 temples in Utah in the various stages of planning
It is also among six temples in Salt Lake County
A temple in Spanish Fork was announced at the most recent general conference
there are 382 temples in the various stages
temples are the most sacred places on Earth
they make promises with God and participate in ordinances that they believe are necessary for salvation
where Sunday services and other activities are held throughout the week
“Increased time in the temple will help us prepare for the second coming of our Savior
We do not know the day or the hour of His coming
But I do know that the Lord is prompting me to urge us to get ready for that ‘great and dreadful day.‘”
(The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) An artistic rendering of the exterior of the West Jordan Temple
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints plans to build its West Jordan Temple in the global faith’s modern style
according to an exterior rendering released Monday
The single-spired, multistory, 85,000-square-foot building will sit on about 16 acres in the Oquirrh foothills on the far west side of the Salt Lake Valley
A new meetinghouse will also be built on the site at approximately 7148 South and west of State Road 111
Church President Russell M. Nelson announced plans for the edifice at the April 2024 General Conference along with another suburban temple in Lehi
showed it would have wings on either side of its main entrance
The West Jordan Temple appears to be longer and narrower
(The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) An exterior rendering of Utah's Lehi Temple
The edifice will be the first Latter-day Saint temple for the growing suburb and the fourth west of Interstate 15 in the Salt Lake Valley
joining two buildings in South Jordan and one in Taylorsville
Nelson announced another new temple for the worldwide faith’s home state this month. The Spanish Fork Temple will be the church’s 32nd planned or existing such edifice in Utah
There are 382 temples operating or in the works around the globe
Devout Latter-day Saints — whom church leaders deem worthy — go to temples to practice the faith’s holiest rituals such as eternal marriage.
For e-edition questions or comments, contact customer support 801-237-2900 or email subscribe@sltrib.com
sltrib.com © 1996-2025 The Salt Lake Tribune
Utah — People living in West Jordan may hear some new buzzing sounds overhead as the city's police department rolls out its new drone program
it’s unknown what people’s intentions are,” explained Lt
But new drones in the sky will help keep officers safe
“We can use [the drone system] for accident reconstruction
we can track missing kids,” Shepherd explained
joining several other Utah agencies that have already adopted the program
Utilizing drones within law enforcement is kind of a game changer for us,” added Shepherd
The drones also help the West Jordan Fire Department when battling structure fires by finding hot spots
“It helps keep them stay safe from not having to climb on a structure fire after the fact and letting them know where additional fires are with a thermal camera,” said Shepherd
West Jordan resident Lawrence Magna works in the tech industry and worries whether his privacy and that of others is top of mind when it comes to the drones
“Having video surveillance inside neighborhoods could pose a risk for hackers that could hack into recorded feeds," he said
I’m not really for the government acquiring more data.”
Police say the drones will only record when necessary to gather evidence in accordance with Utah law
“One thing for the public to know is if a drone is right above you
we’re looking streets ahead," Shepherd claimed
"It’s something we utilize the drone with cameras to be as far away from the target area we’re searching.”
Jack Parker lives in West Jordan and used drones that identified dangerous weapons when he worked in explosive ordinance disposal for over five years
“It’s kept my fellow service members alive," Parker shared
"Losing a robot is better than losing a human being.”
how can residents tell the difference between a police drone and a regular drone
but that is a question that gets brought up quite a lot
Shepherd said anyone who lives in West Jordan and sees a drone should also look for a police presence to know it is likely connected to the department
we’re gonna be driving around the neighborhood or you’ll see lights
SALT LAKE CITY — A rendering of the future Latter-day Saint West Jordan temple released Monday shows a white building with tall rounded windows
Plans for the building include multiple stories and a total of 85,000 square feet
along with a new meetinghouse near the temple
The temple was announced one year ago in the April 2024 general conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, along with the Lehi Utah Temple, which already has a public rendering
The West Jordan Utah Temple will be built on a 16.10-acre location west of state Route 111 at approximately 7148 South
There are currently 21 open temples in Utah
Two temples are under renovation in Salt Lake City and Provo
and four have been announced — including Lehi
"Latter-day Saints worship in temples for several reasons: to feel God's love and peace
to learn more about God's plan for his children and the gospel of Jesus Christ
to make promises with God and with one's husband or wife and to unite families in this life and the next through sacred ordinances," a church statement released along with the rendering said
The Syracuse Utah Temple will have an open house in May before its dedication on June 8, and the iconic Salt Lake Temple will have a six-month open house from April to October of 2027
Utah (KUTV) — A rendering of the West Jordan
Utah temple has been released by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
showing a single-spire structure nestled into the foothills of the Oquirrh Mountains
The artist’s rendering was released Monday
The new temple would face the Salt Lake Valley to the east
The rendering showed a structure very similar the Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple
plans called for a structure about 40 percent larger at 85,000 square feet – the temple in South Jordan was built at 60,000 square feet
The West Jordan Temple would be the third largest in the Salt Lake Valley
The Salt Lake Temple - the largest of all the Church's temples - was built at 382,000 square feet – double the size of the next largest structure
The Jordan River Temple in South Jordan is just over 148,000 square feet
The Angel Moroni statue that adorns many of the faith’s temples was noticeably absent from the West Jordan rendering
Nelson announced the temple during the last session of the April 2024 general conference
The Lehi Utah Temple was announced at the same time
The West Jordan Utah Temple will be built on a 16.1-acre site near 7148 South
Church officials said the temple site would also include a new meetinghouse
Details about when construction would begin
or when the temple was expected to open were not released
Utah — A second suspect has been arrested in connection to a deadly shooting that took the life of a 19-year-old West Jordan man back in March
was booked into Salt Lake County Jail Friday for Obstruction of Justice
Booking documents say he was taken into custody when he was attending a detention hearing for Tayden Huntsman
the primary suspect currently being charged with Aggravated Murder for allegedly shooting and killing 19-year-old Hugo Lucero on March 9
As FOX 13 News previously reported
the shooting occurred in the area of 7900 South 6400 West just before 3:45 a.m
Officers on scene found Lucero with a gunshot wound to the chest
Surveillance footage led to the identification of Huntsman as the shooter
and he was booked into Salt Lake County Jail four days later
detectives identified Vasquez as a suspect with known gang ties
specifically identifying him as a "shot-caller" for the gang he and Huntsman are members of
After obtaining search warrants for Huntsman's cell phone and social media accounts
they found multiple messages back and forth between them
wherein Vasquez instructed Huntsman to dispose of the murder weapon and offered to gather money to help Huntsman flee the state
Vasquez denied trying to help Huntsman flee the state
but did admit to telling Huntsman to dispose of the murder weapon by throwing it into a river
Vasquez is currently being held without bail
Utah (KUTV) — A West Jordan neighborhood is working to collect signatures to stop a development project residents feel was voted on by the council without their input
The decision was made by the city council in early December
The council voted to approve a development in their neighborhood
and now residents are trying to get enough signatures to get a referendum
They need to get more than 8,000 signatures
the issue will go on the ballot for people to vote on
Jake McNinch lives right across from where hundreds of new homes are set to be built in West Jordan
The Copper Meadows development is something he's been fighting against with many of his neighbors since it was proposed about a year ago
"We feel it's going to adversely affect our neighborhoods,” McNinch said
McNinch and his neighbors went to several meetings over the last year voicing their opposition of the project
the West Jordan City Council voted to postpone the vote on the development because some of the council members still had questions about the project
a meeting between residents and the council was set up for December 5 — but they never got to have that meeting
because McNinch said council chair Zach Jacob added the vote to the December 4 council meeting
A timeline of events leading to this vote was outlined by the city council's chair
and is listed at the bottom of this article
"The day before the meeting,” McNinch said
"It really didn't sit well with a lot of the constituents and residents."
some of the council members said their questions about the project had been resolved
Councilman Kelvin Green said all he's heard from residents is "no."
“Not once have I heard one of you call me and say
'I have a meaningful solution,’” Green said to some of the people at the meeting
that's why we scheduled the meeting,” McNinch said
Councilman Bob Bedore referenced the now-cancelled meeting
"This meeting was going to be nothing but false hope,” Bedore said
That comment didn't sit well with McNinch either
"I think that's deplorable,” McNinch said
The council voted six to one to approve the development plan
The residents have seven days from when it was passed to turn in the referendum application
West Jordan City Council's chair sent KUTV a timeline of events
Utah (KUTV) — Authorities are searching for a missing and endangered 15-year-old girl from West Jordan who is believed to be believed to be traveling with a man wanted on a warrant for sexual activity with a minor
Kara Nez left her home during the night of Sunday
Investigators believe the two fled in a black 2024 Nissan Altima belonging to Kara’s father
Officers said the pair may be headed to Arizona or New Mexico
Police confirmed that Gaucin has a warrant out for his arrest for sexual activity with a minor
Kara has been listed as a missing and endangered person
with strawberry blonde hair and brown eyes
Gaucin is described as 5 feet 7 inches tall
Anyone with information about their whereabouts has been advised to contact West Jordan police dispatch at 801-840-4000 and reference case number WJ25-18915
WEST JORDAN — Police are looking for a West Jordan teen who left home in the middle of the night with a 20-year-old man
is believed to have left her house with Luige Gaucin early Sunday
The duo "reportedly stole Kara's father's black 2024 Nissan Altima with temporary permit DC30164 and possibly fled to Arizona or New Mexico."
West Jordan police are searching for Kara Nez
Police say the 15-year-old girl left her home in the middle of the night Sunday with Gaucin
Gaucin has been accused of unlawful sexual activity with a minor and has a warrant out for his arrest
Kara is listed as a missing endangered person
Police described Kara as a Native American girl with strawberry-blond hair and brown eyes
Gaucin has brown hair and brown eyes and is also 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighs 150 pounds
Gaucin or the stolen vehicle is asked to contact West Jordan police at 801-840-4000 and reference case WJ25-18915
9:23 PM | Updated: 11:39 pm
BY DEBBIE WORTHEN
WEST JORDAN — A family in West Jordan has been forced from their home after a devastating fire broke out
West Jordan Fire officials said the incident occurred on Wednesday at approximately 4:00 p.m
While all family members managed to escape the flames
one individual was taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation
Neighbor Charis Sivulka recalled the terrifying moment she noticed the fire
and I just see flames coming out of the first window over there — the big window
Flames coming out of the front of the West Jordan home on Wednesday
the neighbor’s house is on fire right now
I don’t know what to do,'” Charis said
“She was kind of freaking out,” Rob said
‘You better call 911 and you better start videoing.'”
Flames coming out of the back of the West Jordan home on Wednesday
the street was packed with emergency vehicles
“This whole street was full of fire trucks,” Rob said
“I’ve never witnessed a house fire before and it was just so much flames
and Charis and Rob were shocked at how fast the situation unfolded
They know the family who lived in the now-charred house and shared their heartfelt sympathy
“May the Lord have mercy on them,” Rob said
“It’s just a shame that something like this happened.”
The damages on the West Jordan home left by the fire
West Jordan Fire crews faced additional challenges during the firefight
noting the danger of a potential floor collapse
As investigators worked late into the evening collecting evidence and taking photos
cleanup crews arrived to secure the structure
and the cause of the fire is still under investigation
Utah — Two West Jordan police officers were able to help save a woman after she made a 911 call and hung up
and even though a man picked up and said everything was fine
they heard the woman screaming in the back and were able to apprehend the suspect
"Thankfully we got there at the right time,” said Officer Edgar Breton
he and Officer Ramon Ramirez got the case from Salt Lake City police dispatch
since the call was coming from a West Jordan address
The officers said the dispatcher informed them there was a history of criminal behavior related to the number the call came from
Officer Breton called back to make sure everything was okay
The suspect told them they were at the Hampton Inn in West Jordan
we heard the female screaming for help again
and then he was put in handcuffs at that point
which is when we observed on the bed was the victim who was severely beaten at that point,” recalled Officer Ramirez
the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office charged the suspect
aggravated assault and multiple other felony charges
"The diligence of this police officer checking back on this apparent 911 hang-up helped save this victim-survivor from a very dangerous situation
She has a long road to recovery after having to undergo surgery for some of her injuries," said Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill in a statement announcing the charges had been filed
Charging documents say the woman told police that when she went to the hotel room
he blocked the door when she tried to leave and then allegedly physically and sexually assaulted her
Documents also showed that Murray “had several prior arrests for domestic violence against the same victim.”
"I actually joined this job to make a difference,” said Officer Ramirez
Gets backing from JPMorgan Chase and Starwood Property Trust
US data center firm Novva has secured financing for the next phase of its campus outside Salt Lake City
First reported by the Wall Street Journal and since confirmed by Novva
JPMorgan Chase and Starwood Property Trust are providing a $2 billion loan for the build-out of Novva's West Jordan campus
The funds will allow Novva to complete the second and third phases of construction of its 100-acre data center campus - adding two buildings and 144MW
“Our Salt Lake City center is the first facility where we were able to fully showcase Novva’s vision for future-proof data center facilities that put sustainability
and we’re proud to continue that legacy with this second and third phase of construction,” said Novva CEO Wes Swenson
“Above and beyond the sustainability and technological sophistication our facilities bring
the Salt Lake City campus offers our clients some of the lowest total cost of ownership in the industry in a strategic location that offers low-cost power
no sales tax on equipment purchases and a high-altitude cold desert climate.”
Phase two of the project began construction in December 2023 and will feature the campus’s second 318,000 sq ft (29,543 sqm)
It is expected to be fully complete by 2026
The third phase started construction in January 2024 and will also feature a 318,000 sq ft (29,543 sqm) data center offering 72MW
which is also expected to be complete in 2026
spans 100 acres with 1.5 million sq ft (139,354 sqm) of data center space across four planned buildings
“This significant financing is further validation of the potential we saw in Novva’s proprietary data center design and its experienced and forward-thinking management team when we invested in the company five years ago,” said Avi Shemesh
“As demand for AI and data center capacity grows
we believe Novva continues to be strongly positioned as one of the most innovative and fastest-growing data center companies in the US developing sustainable
highly efficient data centers at low cost.”
The company was recently given the greenlight by local officials for its Mesa project in Phoenix
Data Centre Dynamics Ltd (DCD), 32-38 Saffron Hill, London, EC1N 8FH Email. [email protected]DCD is a subsidiary of InfraXmedia
Utah (KUTV) — A teenage boy was transported to the hospital with serious injuries after a West Jordan shooting
According to the West Jordan Police Department
dispatchers received a 911 call at about 11:20 p.m
on Wednesday about a shooting in a neighborhood in the area of 3400 West and 6600 South
WJPD Officer Aleya Mason said when police arrived on-scene
they found a 15-year-old who'd sustained a gunshot injury
The teen was taken to the hospital in serious condition
police said the boy was in critical condition
It wasn't immediately known how many times or where on his body he was shot
“It's so sad these kids are so young,” said a neighbor who saw police outside her home
‘oh my gosh there's a bunch of cops coming down the street.' I saw a young man sitting on the neighbor's retaining wall
he was doubled over his head in his hands."
Andrew Hercules said two other individuals were also at the scene when police arrived
While neither individual is suspected of being the shooter
they were both suspected of being involved in other criminal activity
"We believe the suspects are still outstanding," Hercules said
One of the two individuals at the scene was arrested and booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on suspicion of drug-related offenses -- which may have been a factor in the shooting
The second individual was not immediately taken into custody
which Hercules said is likely due to a lack of probable cause
"I believe that drugs were involved in this in some capacity," Hercules said
police were seen walking a K-9 and searching home yards
Police said the incident was not a drive-by shooting
but the shooter was seen leaving in a vehicle
Hercules didn't immediately have a description of the vehicle or the gunman
Police at the scene early Thursday were seen searching the yard of a home as a passenger car was being towed off the property
It wasn't clear which of the involved individuals
lived at the residence where the incident happened
Hercules said investigators believe this is an isolated incident
and the public at large is not in any danger
He asked anyone with information about the shooting to contact police
noting that investigators are specifically looking for surveillance footage between 11:15 - 11:30 p.m
Anyone with footage or information is asked to call dispatch at 801-840-4000
Matthew Jacobson reported from Salt Lake City
WEST JORDAN, Utah (KUTV) — A second man has been arrested in connection with a shooting at a West Jordan house party that left a 19-year-old dead
while attending a court hearing for the suspected shooter
at the Third District Courthouse in Salt Lake City
identified by police as a documented gang member and alleged leader of the 600-block gang
faces charges for allegedly helping Huntsman escape law enforcement and dispose of the murder weapon
Officers responded to reports of gunfire and discovered 19-year-old Hugo Lucero dead at the scene
Surveillance footage and witness statements led police to identify Huntsman as the gunman
who allegedly fired 11 rounds toward a group of people
Huntsman was arrested on March 13 and admitted to shooting Lucero following a verbal fight at the party
Investigators later confirmed Huntsman was a member of the 600-block gang
using the alias "Tenzo." He also allegedly told another individual to deny knowing he and his friends were at the party if questioned
Vasquez had been in touch with Huntsman after the shooting
advising him to dispose of the firearm by throwing it into a river
Arrest documents stated that Vasquez admitted he had attempted to gather money to help Huntsman flee the state
Detectives obtained search warrants for Huntsman’s cell phone and social media accounts
which revealed messages exchanged between the two shortly after the shooting
known as “GGV,” reportedly told Huntsman how to use the gun and offered to help him avoid arrest
Vasquez admitted that he told Huntsman to fire the gun but denied helping him flee
Vasquez was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on one first-degree felony count of obstruction of justice
Huntsman remains in custody at the jail and is facing charges of first-degree felony aggravated murder
and 11 counts of felony discharge of a firearm
ABC4 Utah
An Endangered Missing Alert has been issued for a 15-year-old girl out of West Jordan
according to the Utah Department of Public Safety
We kicked off the work week with soggy weather and lingering moisture will spell a few more showers today before things start clearing out
Whether it's a domesticated animal or a wild animal
it's important to know what to do when seeing either one out in the wild
The West Valley City Police Department (WVCPD) has arrested a woman on allegations of child abuse after a 5-year-old child was found with blood on their face and soaked with water
George has agreed to move a new power substation to a different plot of land in the city
preserving an excavation site right across the street from the St
UDOT crews have been working for weeks to clear Guardsman Pass to get it ready for the summer season
Could grizzly bears cross Utah’s border soon
What to keep in mind to stay safe during spring runoff
Barbershop hosting free haircuts in honor of Sgt
Progress on preparing Guardsman Pass to reopen
the department lost its first officer in the line of duty when Sgt
Bill Hooser was struck and killed by a suspect in a semi-truck during a traffic stop
the friends he made on the force are remembering him as one of the most dedicated officers who took work seriously
but also made an emphasis to build relationships
A low-pressure system is working its way through the region and will settle over the Four Corners
more compact low drops in on the west side of the main low
Utah (KUTV) — A man was arrested Thursday for withholding critical information from police regarding a fatal hit-and-run crash in West Jordan
This investigation began Tuesday, March 25, when officers were dispatched to a hit-and-run crash at the intersection of 8660 South
Police spoke with several witnesses who reported that a motorcycle had collided with an SUV
The motorcyclist was transported to a nearby hospital
Surveillance video from a nearby business revealed that the motorcycle collided with a 2002 GMC Yukon
On Wednesday, March 26, West Jordan police received a tip that the suspect vehicle was spotted in a neighborhood near 8620 South and 3965 West. Officers responded and located the truck
A search of the vehicle's records revealed the registered owner was 46-year-old Sabino Lazaro-Javier
Police documents noted significant damage to the vehicle
including a piece of a motorcycle helmet in the front passenger seat
fabric caught in the damaged area of the passenger door
and a backpack strap matching the one worn by the motorcyclist at the time of the crash
Lazaro-Javier was located and taken into custody for questioning on Thursday
he claimed his vehicle had been stolen before the crash and denied involvement
had been driving the SUV during the crash and that Ponciano had contacted him shortly afterward with details of the incident
Police said Lazaro-Javier also admitted to calling 911 earlier that night and falsely reporting his vehicle had been stolen to cover up his involvement
He also deleted phone records of calls with Ponciano that could have linked him to the crash
Lazaro-Javier was arrested on two counts of Class A misdemeanor obstruction of justice
no arresting documents were available for Ponciano
WEST JORDAN — A 46-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a deadly hit-and-run crash this week in West Jordan after the vehicle suspected of being involved was located and items belonging to the victim were found inside
Sabino Lazaro-Javier was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on Thursday for investigation of two counts of obstruction of justice
On Tuesday night, West Jordan police responded to a crash at Gardner Lane and Redwood Road. An SUV had hit a motorcyclist and drove off before officers arrived
"The motorcyclist was transported by ambulance to the hospital where he died as a result of his injuries," a police booking affidavit states
He was later identified as Garrett Randall Pace
police received a tip that the 2002 GMC Yukon that drove away from the scene was in a neighborhood in the area of 8600 South and 4000 West
Officers responded and located the vehicle
"Investigators observed that the Yukon exhibited extensive damage on the passenger side
consistent with the details of the collision
officers discovered a portion of a motorcycle helmet on the front passenger seat
a piece of fabric lodged in the damaged area of the passenger door
and a backpack strap matching the backpack worn by the motorcyclist," the affidavit states
Police say he even called 911 on Tuesday and falsely reported his vehicle had been taken
Lazaro-Javier later admitted to having knowledge of the crash but said a co-worker was driving
and that the co-worker "called and told him the details of the accident minutes after it occurred." He then deleted the call records on his phone after speaking with the co-worker
The affidavit did not indicate whether police had questioned the co-worker as of Friday
West Jordan preserved its perfect record in Region 4 competition with a dominant 10-0 win over Cyprus
wrapping up the game in just shy of five innings
as Arianna Fjeldsted led off with a single and the home team wasted no time
plating three runs within the first 10 minutes of play
“We embody being a team and starting strong
We love to feed off each other’s early energy and create chaos,” commented coach McHailee Danner
West Jordan continued to build on its early momentum with three more runs in the second inning
With two outs and runners on first and second
a sharply hit grounder toward the second base bag set up what looked to be a close play
both baserunners aggressively advanced a second base
A key component of the Jaguars’ offensive success was their fearless baserunning
While a couple of aggressive plays backfired — one runner was caught in a rundown between second and third on a grounder to short — the overall approach kept Cyprus under constant pressure
West Jordan swiped four bases and consistently turned routine situations into scoring opportunities with their daring style
“I love being out there and creating chaos
I try to keep a clear head and get to the next couple of bases
Just having fun helps to have a clear mind and understand what is going on,” said Fjeldsted
describing how she thrives on disrupting defenses with her aggressive baserunning
Rita Tavita was in complete control from the circle
delivering a masterful performance en route to a shutout victory
and did not give up a single extra-base hit
Tavita consistently got ahead in counts and kept the Pirates off balance
rarely letting them work deep into at-bats
She now has 40 strikeouts over her last five appearances
It is really important to throw first-pitch strikes for me
Attacking the zone and attacking the count — it worked out for me today
I try to stay aggressive,” commented Tavita
We have great senior leadership from the infield
With a commanding lead in the bottom of the fourth and two runners on
Lafiana Fifita had the opportunity to end the game with a home run
West Jordan’s aggressive baserunning caught up with them as a runner was picked off — highlighting both the risks and rewards of their bold approach — preventing Fifita from completing her at-bat
After another dominant half-inning to start the fifth
Fifita was given another chance at the plate
she launched a rocket deep to center field for a home run
a groundout to first base marked Cyprus’s first out of the inning
the runner on third had crossed home plate
I noticed the first pitch was always coming right down the middle
I mentally prepared myself to see that pitch and wasn’t going to miss it
I just connected ball-to-bat,” said Fifita
reflecting on the adjustments that led to her home run
West Jordan moves to 11-3 (6-0) on the season
They will host Hunter and Wastach on a back-to-back on Thursday and Friday
Cyprus will travel to Bountiful before hosting Kearns later this week
Danner praised her team’s chemistry and depth
everyone is always so ecstatic for each other
Our team really is a family — we’re excited for anyone who gets in to play
I believe that really translates well to being able to string hits together
I feel like all nine — all 21 — players that I have are absolutely ruthless
I am confident in anybody that comes into the game
We have a stellar catcher that blocks everything
Utah (KUTV) — A 19-year-old man is facing multiple charges
after opening fire at a house party and fatally shooting one person
The incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday
when West Jordan police responded to reports of a fatal shooting at 7987 South and 6435 West
Investigators gathered surveillance footage from neighbors that showed the suspect
firing a handgun 11 times in the direction of several people
Huntsman allegedly sent a text message to another individual telling them to deny that he and his friends were at the party if questioned
getting into a verbal altercation with Lucero
A witness reported that Huntsman claimed Lucero’s death was gang-related
Previous records revealed that Huntsman is a member of the 600-block gang
Huntsman also damaged a vehicle by striking it multiple times during the incident
Huntsman was booked into the Salt Lake County Metro Jail on charges of first-degree felony aggravated murder
second-degree felony obstruction of justice
third-degree felony tampering with a witness
and 11 counts of third-degree felony discharge of a firearm
by Jacob Scholl | Jan 28
a new master-planned community in West Jordan is becoming a reality.
Terraine
located to the west of State Route 111 along Terraine Road
is a 630-acre development that will house around 3,000 units when it’s fully built out along the west bench of the Oquirrh Mountains
The development will be a mix of single family homes
with units set to be delivered in the coming years.
Of the total acreage, about a third of the land will be designated open space with conservation easements, according to Ty McCutcheon, founding principal at Third Cadence
Because the homes will be concentrated to allow for more open space
McCutcheon said the net density will be around 10 units per acre
which is similar to a Salt Lake city neighborhood like Liberty Wells
from apartments up to luxury homes and everything in between,” he told Building Salt Lake
“We’re also designing (Terraine) for every stage of life
and we think that’s an important part of a vibrant community
either apartments or townhomes or condominiums or paired homes
Terraine is roughly a 15-minute drive from the Jordan Landing shopping complex
The development is less than a 10-minute drive to the Utah First Credit Union Amphitheater in West Valley City
Terraine is also about a 10-minute drive to the closest TRAX station — the 5600 W. Old Bingham Hwy. stop on the Red Line. Terraine is not within the Utah Transit Authority’s On Demand microtransit service
which is available in South Jordan and Herriman
McCutcheon said he’s been in contact with UTA officials in the hopes of adding transit to the neighborhood in the coming years
In order to create Terraine, McCutcheon said he worked with West Jordan City for over two years to sketch out a development agreement and overall plan
a former president and CEO of Daybreak Communities
added the project has city approval for up to 250,000 square feet of commercial space
He said that’s enough space to support a neighborhood center development
an Arizona company that manages the community aspects and common space of Terraine
said the project’s focus on conservation sets it apart from other developments around Salt Lake County
Hiking trails will dot the foothills of the project
and much of the project’s landscaping will feature native plant life
It will take years for the project to be fully built
but he said all types of home models listed online will be available for purchase
and Terraine will have about 200 new homes available each year.
Entry price points for Terraine start in the low $400,000-range, according to McCutcheon. According to Redfin
the median sale price for a home in West Jordan was around $503,000 in December
The development features five home builders, including local mainstays like Ivory Homes, to build different types of units. On Saturday, one of the model homes on display was a duplex by Ivory, consisting of two units that each include two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a garage. Another model on display Saturday was Sunrise townhomes
which range from 2-3 bedroom and 2-2.5 bathroom units
Sunrise units range from 1,500 to 1,900 square feet.
Other units listed on Terraine’s website are primarily large
with the bigger homes reaching up to 5,000 square feet in size.
Terraine will have a number of shared amenities
The development opened its first common space
The Shed features a coffee shop and common area space for residents.
this space will be flanked by a small amphitheater and another common area building
that will house offices and meeting space for residents
The two buildings and amphitheater will form a common space that can hold farmers markets and other outdoor gatherings.
Email Jacob Scholl
deeply affordable housing units gained city approval recently
as the plan would add the affordable units onto an..
A Texas-based luxury property management company recently began making headways in the Salt Lake City market
At the foot of the North Temple bridge at 600 West
where Downtown transitions to the west side
Three buildings near the Utah Governor’s Mansion in the Lower Avenues will be torn down in the coming weeks as part of a larger effort to rebuild..
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Site built by John Battenfeld
7:23 PM | Updated: 10:44 pm
BY DIANA JONES
WEST JORDAN — Police have now released the identity of the suspect in the fatal hit-and-run accident on March 25
Police are still investigating and on the look-out for Erasmo
He is a Hispanic male with multiple tattoos
Erasmo also goes by “Ponciano” and “Toshiro.”
West Jordan Police Department ask anyone with any information to contact 801-840-4000 and reference case WJ25-15827
On March 25, Garrett Pace
was hit by a SUV at Gardner Lane and Redwood Road while riding his motorcycle
WJPD said the driver drove off before officer arrived
was arrested last week as part of the investigation
Lazaro-Javier is the registered owner of the car involved in the crash
At first Lazaro-Javier falsely reported the car as stolen but later told police his co-worker was driving at the time and had called him minutes after the crash
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Utah with her two brothers John and Ralph Smith
Charmaine attended Jordan High School before going to work at Utah Power and Light for over 40 years.
As a young girl she suffered a terrible accident that changed the course of her life
she never let her accident stop her from having a happy and fulfilling life
always look on the bright side of life.”
Charmaine was a devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
sister and aunt and was always looking after her family and friends.
She is survived by her nephews Chase Smith and Cliff Smith and her nieces Susan Cutler-Barnhart and Christine Smith
She also leaves behind cousins Margie Adams and Sharon Snyder
Special thanks is extended to her good friends Larry and Tammy Phelps
An evening viewing will be held on Thursday
at the West Jordan Chapel located at 8825 S 1095 W
A viewing will be held prior to the funeral from 10:00 a.m
We invite all who knew and loved Charmaine to join us in honoring her legacy and sharing cherished memories
but her spirit will forever remain in our hearts.
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10:46 PM | Updated: Feb 10
BY GARNA MEJIA
WEST JORDAN — Nearly a month after the discovery of Autumn Mercado’s body during a welfare check at her West Jordan home
is calling for justice and permanent protection for her sister’s two young children
On Jan. 13, police found Autumn Mercado’s body inside her home at 7800 S
was arrested on the same day on two counts of suspicion of child abandonment and one count of abuse or desecration of a dead body
Authorities allege that Carlos Mercado left Autumn Mercado’s body at the bottom of the stairs and took a rideshare to a gas station to buy beer
“He’s left my sister’s body at the bottom of the stairs for who knows how long
and goes and grabs beer,” Christiansen said
The booking photo of Carlos Mercado for a pervious incident
Carlos Mercado was released from jail within five days of his arrest, a decision that left Christiansen and her family in shock.
“We did not know he was released and one of our family members ran into him,” she said
Autumn Mercado’s body showed signs of bruising
Carlos Mercado claims she fell down the stairs
Christiansen suspects that something more sinister occurred
believes that the investigation is facing a delay
He believes it’s possibly due to pending forensic evidence
“The investigation is continuing for something we don’t know what that is,” Skordas said
“It doesn’t make sense to charge someone with a crime that you just don’t have the evidence together yet.”
Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill’s Office released a statement to KSL
emphasizing their responsibility to screen and file charges only when an investigation is complete
there are time limits that person can be held
The prosecution has a responsibility to screen and file charges when an investigation is complete
the investigation is still ongoing,” the office said in its statement
Carlos Mercado has a history of domestic violence
he threatened Autumn Mercado and her friend
saying “I will cut you up,” according to court documents
He then threw a large butcher knife at the friend
he was convicted of aggravated assault for that incident
If you or someone you know is going through abuse
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233
WEST VALLEY CITY — A West Jordan man who was 15 when a 19-year-old man was shot and killed several years ago was charged with murder Friday as an adult
Jose Antonio Flores-Carrillo, 21, is charged in 3rd District Court with murder, a first-degree felony; and two counts of shooting a gun and causing injury, a second-degree felony, in the 2019 shooting death of 19-year-old Neko Jardine
while attending a party with about 30 to 40 people at 5624 W
Witnesses at the party told police that before the shooting
a car pulled up to the house and the occupants asked the guests if they "banged," according to charging documents
The witnesses said they were not part of a gang
"They all started 'going at it.' As the fighting continued
and they all started to run back in the house
(He) looked down and discovered he had been shot
(He) had no information to explain the reason for the incident and explained it was 'unexpected' and came 'out of nowhere.' (The witness) sustained three gunshot wounds to his legs," the charges state
Others who were with Flores-Carrillo that night were later questioned by police and claimed there was a confrontation with a group at the house earlier in the evening and they wanted to go back and fight them
One man said they brought two guns that night and Flores-Carrillo fired one of them during the fight
Prosecutors say Flores-Carrillo's juvenile criminal history includes aggravated assault
aggravated kidnapping and aggravated robbery
which was ultimately dismissed due to lack of witness cooperation
He is currently on felony probation … for fleeing
DUI and reckless driving," prosecutors noted in the charging documents
"Despite being placed in secure care for several violent felonies as a juvenile
he quickly reengaged in criminal behavior upon his release
There is substantial evidence supporting this case
Several witnesses identified (Flores-Carrillo) with a firearm that evening and recalled him taking credit for the shooting after they left the scene
The statements were further corroborated by surveillance footage."
West Valley police announced the arrests of three men in connection with the shooting
but formal criminal charges were never filed
Utah — Eleven people were taken to local hospitals Saturday afternoon due to a carbon monoxide leak at a meat processing plant in West Jordan
The West Jordan Fire Department was called to Otto & Sons (OSI Industries) shortly before 3 p.m
after receiving a call of an unconscious woman
The plant is located on 4980 West just off Old Bingham Highway
After the crew got the woman out of the building safely
they found more people who were feeling sick
and then they detected a significant level of carbon monoxide
Deputy Fire Chief Chris Trevino said the level was 800 parts-per-million
which he said is a "significant danger to life and health."
“It was a joint venture with our neighboring partners: West Valley City
and Unified Fire Authority along with West Jordan," Trevino said
Trevino said the source of the leak was in the manufacturing area
is now on-site working to figure out the problem
Crews were able to isolate the locker room from the leak so all the employees could return to retrieve belongings
WEST JORDAN — Police are searching for a man who stabbed another man during an altercation at a towing service in West Jordan Thursday
police received a report of a physical altercation at Advanced Towing Services,1340 W
West Jordan police spokesman Taylor Griffith said
The man who had been stabbed was alert when police arrived
and he was taken to a hospital where he was "stable." Griffith did not elaborate on the extent of the man's injuries or specify how many times the man was stabbed
It is unclear how many people were involved in the altercation or whether the people involved were customers or employees
The man who is believed to have stabbed the other man left on foot and possibly got into a vehicle
about 5-foot-9 and was wearing a dark green hoodie with gray pants
WEST JORDAN — West Jordan police on Thursday are continuing to look for the person or people involved in the shooting of a 15-year-old boy
Police received a 911 call of a possible shooting and arrived to find the teenager outside with a gunshot wound
Police did not say Thursday how many shots they believe were fired
The boy was taken to a local hospital in critical condition
Andrew Hercules says two others were with the teen when emergency crews arrived
was arrested for investigation of obstruction of justice
drug possession with intent to distribute and being a restricted person in possession of a gun
Police say the gunman drove off after the shooting
It was not immediately known if other people were with the gunman
West Jordan police on Thursday had few details about the incident to release
Williamson and the third person were not being cooperative with detectives
Williamson "had arrived to the area and set up a drug deal with two large ziplock amounts of marijuana," according to a police booking affidavit
"When investigators asked (Williamson) who he had set up the drug deal with and who shot the victim
(he) withheld that information so it was unknown to police who was the shooting suspect," the affidavit states
Witnesses said Williamson had been seen earlier in the day with a pistol
Once investigators were in the house and received a search warrant
a backpack was searched for a weapon and the marijuana was found
Police are asking anyone with information or any resident who may have seen something or had something suspicious recorded on their security or doorbell cameras to contact them at 801-840-4000
Williamson also currently faces a charge of failing to stop for police
for allegedly leading Taylorsville police on a chase in a stolen vehicle last June
The chase came to an end after the car occupied by Williamson and two other "young males" had the tires spiked and then crashed into another vehicle
Utah (KUTV) — An SUV matching the description of one involved in a deadly hit-and-run was found by a woman in a West Jordan neighborhood
Police haven’t confirmed that it was the same car
but they did investigate it and eventually towed it away
23-year-old Garret Pace was riding his motorcycle when he was hit by an SUV on Redwood Road Tuesday night
The driver fled and Pace died at the scene
I can’t even fathom,” Whitney Rich said about the hit-and-run
she noticed a black SUV she didn’t recognize
It was parked just down the street from her house
and she could almost see it from her front door
“The windows were smashed out on the passenger side
And then on the driver’s side one of the windows was smashed out on that side as well,” she said
West Jordan police released a picture of the vehicle and described it as a 2003-2006 dark colored Chevy or GMC SUV with significant damage to the passenger side
The vehicle rich spotted and called in to police matches that description
“As I was reading the description of what it looked like
That was the vehicle I saw this morning,” Rich said
Rich believes it was abandoned there some time Tuesday night
She called police and took pictures of the car as they were investigating it
They were on scene for a few hours and eventually towed it away
Rich said she’s happy that she potentially helped police come closer to catching the driver in the hit-and-run
KUTV has reached out to the West Jordan Police Department and was awaiting a response as of the publish time of this report
BREAKING NEWS
10:20 AM | Updated: Apr 29
BY MICHELLE LEE, KSL NEWSRADIO AND CARLYSLE PRICE, KSL TV
SALT LAKE CITY — Police were searching for a missing person who was last seen on Friday in West Jordan
Brenna Reynolds, a 45-year-old West Jordan woman, was later found dead, according to a Facebook post from a family member Monday
“With profound sorrow and deepest gratitude
we thank everyone who shared and supported the search for Brenna,” the Facebook post said
“She has been found after a tragic accident that led her into a river
It is with heavy hearts that we share she did not survive.”
The family asked for privacy to allow them time to grieve and heal
According to the AWARE Foundation
a nonprofit that helps locate missing people
Brenna Reynolds left her residence in West Jordan in the early morning and was seen driving her midnight blue Acura MDX
The car is registered as S25 7AT and has a student driver sticker on the left side of the rear hatch door
Have a story idea or tip? Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here.
Armstrong Williams takes on the news of the week and asks the questions you want answered. Don’t miss our weekly town hall.
West Jordan man admits to leaving dead wife at bottom of stairs to go buy beer: Policeby Matthew Jacobson
Utah (KUTV) — A West Jordan man is facing multiple felony charges after police discovered his deceased wife at the bottom of their stairs while their young children were left unsupervised in the home
was arrested Monday after his wife failed to show up for work
prompting one of her co-workers to call for a welfare check
has a past with domestic violence and wanted to make sure she was OK," the officer reported
West Jordan Police Department officers arrived at the Mercado residence on Monday afternoon after failing to make contact with Autumn via phone
Carlos answered the door and let the police inside
"Carlos stated he was just about to call the police when officers arrived," according to the affidavit
"Carlos invited the responding officers into the residence
where they noticed Autumn lying deceased at the bottom of the stairs."
The report states there were signs of rigor mortis
indicating she had been deceased for hours
Mercado admitted to drinking heavily with his wife the previous night until approximately 4 or 5 a.m.
He told detectives he discovered his wife unresponsive around 8:39 a.m
saying he thought she had passed out "due to her having vertigo and falling down the stairs."
He told police that when he couldn't get the victim to wake up
he put a blanket on her and left two young children - one of them a toddler - unsupervised while he took a Lyft to buy beer
It wasn't known how long he was gone from the residence
but surveillance footage from a nearby gas station showed him purchasing beer about one hour after he said he'd found Autumn at the bottom of the stairs
The welfare check was conducted about six hours after Mercado says he found his wife
Mercado was arrested and booked into the Salt Lake County Jail just after 3 a.m
Tuesday on suspicion of two third-degree felony counts of child abandonment and one Class B misdemeanor count of desecration of a human body
Mercado was found guilty of assault and domestic violence in the presence of a child in 2022
He was also charged with assault and domestic violence in the presence of a child for a separate incident that happened in 2021
prosecutors were unable to make contact with the victim
he was found guilty of 3rd degree felony aggravated assault against then-fiance Autumn
and was ordered to undergo counseling and anger management
which he fulfilled to the court's standard in July 2022
after the charges were filed against him for 2021 incident
Arresting officers in each case reported Mercado smelled strongly of alcohol and slurred his speech when speaking to police
Public safety assessments for each case also listed Mercado as being at an "elevated risk of committing violent crime."
In the case that was dismissed due to the inability to contact the victim
a magistrate ordered there wasn't sufficient evidence to hold Mercado on suspicion of domestic violence-related charges because the arresting officer didn't specify the relationship between Carlos and Autumn
Mercado was released on conditions in that case
none of which ordered him to stay away from the victim
wording in order to release does allow for the county's Criminal Justice Services to add "any other conditions deemed appropriate."
Court records indicate Autumn signed Carlos's jail release agreement waiver
WEST JORDAN — The grandmother of a 2-month-old boy has now been charged with abusing the infant by not properly feeding him
Charges against the baby's mother were filed last week
Virginia Teresa Arellano, 68, of West Jordan, was charged Tuesday in 3rd District Court with aggravated child abuse, a second-degree felony. Last week, her daughter — Emmylou Teresa Arellano
41 — was charged with two counts of aggravated child abuse
Emmylou Arellano took her 2-month-old boy to a children's clinic on March 27
where doctors noticed the boy was "malnourished and running a fever." The boy was then taken to Primary Children's Hospital where one officer said the boy "was so skinny that he could see the shape of his bones under his skin," and another officer noted that "every rib bone in (the boy) was visible," according to charging documents
"Virginia Teresa Arellano stated that she had purchased one can of formula once a month or once every month and a half," while Virginia Arellano "stated that she had not purchased any formula," charging documents state
Doctors told police that the boy should be going through one can of formula about every five days
Medical staff also told detectives that the boy "weighed 7 pounds at birth and was now currently 5 pounds," according to the charges
Virginia Arellano told police that she helped care for her grandson when the boy's mother was sleeping or busy
But despite caring for him "on a regular basis," prosecutors say she "failed to seek appropriate help for him."
Doctors with Safe and Healthy Families determined the boy qualified as "near-fatal malnourished," according to charging documents
Utah (KUTV) — More than 13,000 Rocky Mountain Power customers were without power in West Jordan early Thursday afternoon
Officials with RMP said the outage was affecting 13,777 customers in and surrounding West Jordan due to a damaged line
The estimated time of restoration for power is around 6:30 p.m
RMP's website said the power will be restored before 10:30 p.m
almost 2,000 customers were still without power
No specifications were made on what damaged the line
The outage came in the midst of a severe snow storm blowing in across much of northern Utah
Utah — Our Cool School of the Week always aims for something higher which is why Ascent is in their name
Our Cool School of the Week this week is Ascent Academy West Jordan
"Besides our fabulous faculty and our students
one of the things that makes us amazing is our clusters," said Principal Kathy Butkovich
Clusters are class periods that last about an hour and a half
Students learn a new skill over eight weeks
Some clusters include becoming a superhero
we were deciding how we could help the shelter animals the best
and we decided to raise a donation drive to collect food
and bring it to the West Jordan Animal Shelter," said the teacher behind the dog daze cluster
This week's Cool School nomination also came from the mom of one of the students in the dog daze cluster
students are preparing for their upcoming musical
All of the green on the student's clothes could represent one of the school's colors or seaweed
"We're getting ready to perform the Little Mermaid Jr
Another thing that makes Ascent Academy West Jordan our Cool School of the Week is the creative approach they take to learning
and some of the projects that they learn in the classroom are prototype marketing
and the psychology of how to create a product," said Mrs
we learn communication skills like emails and stuff
and we also learn how to work with our teams," one student said
the community chef cluster was coming together to deliver tasty surprises throughout the school
"I have a group of wonderful third and fourth graders," said the community chef cluster teacher
they decided to give back to the teachers and staff at this school by making these delicious treats."
clusters are a big part of what makes this school special
so Granite Credit Union brought a donation to give to the teachers who make the clusters happen
"We're so excited to be here on behalf of Granite Credit Union
for the awesome work you're doing," said Spencer Carver
Marketing Director for Granite Credit Union
"Teachers dip into their own pockets quite often so this will help with surprise and resources needed to do those cluster classes," said one cluster teacher
you can email nominations to GoodDayUtah@Fox13Now.com or fill out the nomination form on our website
2:23 PM | Updated: 2:27 pm
(FILE) - A West Jordan Police Department patrol car
BY JACOB FREEMAN
WEST JORDAN — The West Jordan Police Department released the name of the victim in Sunday’s deadly shooting outside a house party
Police also said they arrested their primary suspect
The department identified the victim as 19-year-old Hugo Lucero
and the primary suspect in his shooting death as 19-year-old Tayden Huntsman
“Detectives uncovered information that (Huntsman) was involved in a verbal dispute with (Lucero) at a party prior to the shooting
During the investigation (Huntsman) admitted to shooting (Lucero),” the West Jordan Police Department said in a press release Thursday
A probable cause statement for the shooting said police obtained surveillance video from nearby homes that showed a man firing 11 shots “at the victim and other witnesses.” Multiple witnesses reportedly identified Huntsman as the shooter
One witness said Huntsman admitted to the shooting and that “it was for gang stuff,” the statement said
The suspect also reportedly told witnesses to tell police that “he and his friends were not at the party,” the statement said
Huntsman was arrested and is accused of aggravated murder
witness tampering and obstruction of justice
The release said Huntsman is a documented gang member
“We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the community members who came forward with information and support during this investigation
Your cooperation and courage play a vital role in enhancing the safety of our community,” the police department said
WEST JORDAN — West Jordan police are investigating a suspicious death after finding a woman dead at the bottom of a stairwell and already showing signs of rigor mortis
was arrested for investigation of abuse or desecration of a dead body and two counts of child abandonment
The investigation began Monday when West Jordan police were asked to perform a welfare check on Autumn Mercado
The caller also told police there was "a past with domestic violence and wanted to make sure she was OK," according to a police booking affidavit
When officers arrived at the home near 7800 South and 7100 West
Carlos Mercado answered the door and claimed he was just about to call police
where they noticed Autumn lying deceased at the bottom of the stairs
and signs of rigor mortis appeared to be present," the affidavit alleges
"Carlos had an excited utterance saying he thought Autumn was 'passed out' due to her having vertigo and falling down the stairs
Carlos did not specify when the victim fell down the stairs
Officers could smell the odor of alcohol coming from Carlos' breath and noticed he had a hard time maintaining his balance
Multiple open containers of alcohol were observed throughout the front room and kitchen area," the affidavit says
Carlos Mercado said he and Autumn Mercado had been heavily drinking the night before
on Monday to find her at the bottom of the stairs and believed she was asleep
"Carlos said he was unable to wake Autumn up or get any reaction from her
Carlos said he covered Autumn with a blanket and left her at the bottom of the stairs," according to police
Carlos Mercado says he then got a ride-share service to take him to a gas station to buy more beer
leaving the two children unsupervised "in the living room in close proximity to Autumn
where she remained unresponsive and incapacitated
in a condition that Autumn was not able to care for the children in Carlos' absence
Autumn was later confirmed to be deceased by police," the affidavit states
West Jordan police said Tuesday that Mercado was arrested on suspicion of the charges that are based on the evidence currently collected
Detectives are working in conjunction with the Utah Medical Examiner's Office to determine if additional charges
should be screened with the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office
police have been called several times to the house for domestic violence issues between the couple
WEST JORDAN — A 45-year-old man was killed in a crash in West Jordan early Monday
a U-Haul box truck collided with a pickup truck at the intersection of 4800 West and 7800 South
The drivers of each vehicle were taken to local hospitals
The man driving the box truck later died from his injuries
A 20-year-old man driving the pickup was transported in critical condition
West Jordan police say they are investigating whether the U-Haul driver ran a red light
Impairment was not believed to be a factor
Utah — Four people are in custody following a standoff with Unified Police at a West Jordan home late Tuesday night
the incident started when they found a car linked to a person with multiple warrants
Police followed the vehicle by helicopter to a West Jordan home
where they saw four individuals walk inside
and a 31-year-old man were taken into custody
and investigators say the four arrested were living in the home's basement
The names of those arrested haven't been released but FOX 13 News is working to get court documents to learn more information
Utah — One day after a 19-year-old was shot and killed in West Jordan
police are asking for the public's help in identifying suspects
Hugo Lucero's family said Monday that they simply want justice for their son
knew something was wrong when she realized Hugo hadn’t come home
Hugo didn't return or answer texts and calls before police arrived at the family's home on Sunday afternoon to inform them that he had been shot
officers responded to reports of a disturbance in the area near 7900 South and 6400 West
they found Lucero with a gunshot wound to his chest
Investigators claim the shooting followed an argument outside a house party between a group with whom Hugo was involved
The 19-year-old had just started studying welding at Mountainland Technical College
His family shared that he was funny and kind
and that he loved to draw roses and fix cars with his dad
“He was the light in the room,” said Hugo's sister
it almost always felt like I was older than him cause I was always watching out for him.”
Hugo’s mom said her son wasn’t looking for trouble
“He only went to the party to have fun; he didn’t go there looking for problems,” she said
he’s out in the streets as if nothing happened."
A GoFundMe page has been set up by the Lucero family to help with funeral expenses for Hugo
“He didn’t deserve what happened," Mariana said
WEST JORDAN — An arrest warrant has been issued for the suspected driver of a fatal hit-and-run crash in West Jordan who is feared to have fled the area
was charged Thursday in 3rd District Court with leaving the scene of an accident involving death and obstruction of justice
a class A misdemeanor; and failing to yield
On March 26, West Jordan police responded to a crash at Gardner Lane and Redwood Road
An SUV turning left turned into the path of an oncoming motorcycle
hit the Yukon on the front passenger side and was ejected from the motorcycle
proceeded to travel through the front passenger window
leaving part of his helmet and the straps from his backpack inside the vehicle," the charges state
The 2002 GMC Yukon allegedly involved in the crash drove off
police received a tip that the vehicle was in a neighborhood in the area of 8600 South and 4000 West
Detectives searched the area and found the SUV
"Detectives observed that the Yukon had extensive damage to the passenger side and passenger running board
The passenger side mirror was completely destroyed
and the front passenger window had been shattered
a portion of a motorcycle helmet and two backstraps
matching the backpack Pace had been wearing
were located inside the vehicle," according to the charges
Police also found documents inside the vehicle for Rodriguez and 46-year-old Sabino Lazaro-Javier
Lazaro-Javier originally claimed his vehicle had been stolen about 30 minutes prior to the crash
He later said his co-worker had been driving it
"Sabino stated that Rodriguez instructed him to report the vehicle stolen
Sabino stated that when he saw Rodriguez he observed that he had injuries to his arms from where the glass exploded," the charges state
Investigators say Rodriguez shut off his cellphone service on March 31
"(He) has since terminated his cellphone plan and has fled jurisdiction
(His) family has not been cooperative with the police stating that they have no idea where he is
As (Rodriguez) is not originally from Utah there is concern that he will attempt to flee the United States to avoid prosecution," prosecutors state in their charges in seeking an arrest warrant
Lazaro-Javier was arrested for investigation of two counts of obstruction of justice.