Four nabbed in drive-by slaying of 7-year-old girl
By Ana Breton, Jason Bergreen and Erin Alberty
The Salt Lake Tribune
Article Last Updated: 07/07/2008 03:44:15 PM MDT
Updated: 1:21 PM- One adult and three juveniles have been arrested on suspicion of murder in the drive-by shooting death Sunday of a 7-year-old Salt Lake City girl.
Frank Benavidez, 20, was arrested and booked into the Salt Lake County jail and suspicion of first-degree homicide. The juveniles -- Gabriel Magallon, 17; Mae Johnson, 16; and Tiona Vigial, 16 -- also are in custody, suspected of first-degree homicide.
The Salt Lake City Police Department identified the victim as Maria Del Carmen Menchaca. Family friend Elva Reynaga said the girl was a second-grader at Riley Elementary.
Investigators also have recovered a gun linked to the shooting, according to Salt Lake City police spokeswoman Jordan Smith. The Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office is scheduled to screen the case Wednesday.
Menchaca was playing on a sidewalk outside her home at Fremont Avenue and 800 West around 6:30 p.m. when someone fired a round from a passing black SUV -- a Cadillac Escalade or Ford Excursion, police said.
Benavidez is believed to be the driver of the SUV, a jail booking document states.
According to booking information, one of the juveniles pointed a gun in the direction of another juvenile near the home and fired one shot. The bullet hit the girl.
Minutes after the shooting, the victim's relatives ran beneath police tape and struggled with officers as they gathered outside the home. Many shrieked and fell to the ground upon news of the girl's death. Her body lay on the sidewalk, shrouded by white fabric panels set up by investigators.
Police said the shooting is gang-related and may stem from threats reported in the neighborhood earlier in the day. Investigators would not say whether the alleged threats were directed at the family of the little girl, but they did say it is unlikely she was the shooter's target.
Salt Lake City police Lt. Isaac Atencio said police believe they know the identity of at least one person behind the shooting, as well as the gang with which he may be affiliated. However, he would not name the suspect or the gang.
On Monday, a make-shift memorial of flowers and candles leaned against a wire fence near the family's street corner home. A prayer vigil was scheduled for 7 p.m. tonight, Velasquez said.
Multiple neighbors said there appeared to be a growing gang problem in the neighborhood, claiming crowds of "little gang-bangers" have been frequenting the intersection where the girl was shot.
"It's just bound to get worse -- revenge against revenge against revenge," said one neighbor who did not want to be identified for fear of gang retaliation. "You don't want to let your kids play outside. Bullets don't have eyes."
Family who gathered at the scene declined to comment. One woman who said she was acquainted with the family said the girl and her mother were from Mexico.
"She was just a little girl," said Mario Varela, 18, who said he is a friend of the victim's family. "She was a good kid. A very, very friendly girl."
Benavidez - aka Felipe Alarcon Jimenez - was deported last year in connection with felony convictions in two Salt Lake City cases, according to court records.
In June 2006, Benavidez pleaded guilty to third-degree felony counts of aggravated assault and discharging a firearm from a vehicle or highway. As part of a plea deal, two other aggravated assault charged and three other firearm discharge counts were dismissed.
Benavidez had fired five shots at another man, according to 3rd District Court records, following an earlier incident where Benavidez had tried to kiss a woman, which precipitated a fight.
Benavidez also pleaded guilty to third-degree felony failure to stop at the command of a police officer. Prosecutors dismissed three counts of retaliation of a witness, victim or informant and two misdemeanors.
In that case, Benavidez fled in a car when police arrived to question him about a report of a person brandishing a gun. Benavidez sped away, then fled on foot after colliding with another car. He ran into a home, where he changed clothes and threatened to harm the occupants if they cooperated with police, according to court documents.
Judge Deno Himonas sentenced Benavidez in both cases to be deported, which occurred a month later, according to court records.
Himonas ordered Benavidez not to return illegally to United States and issued a $25,000 bench warrant in case he did return.
In yet a third case, Benavidez was charged in October 2006 with aggravated kidnapping, robbery and assault. That case was dismissed two months later because prosecutors were unable to locate the victim.
Benavidez and Jesus Alarcon Jimenez attacked a woman and stole her purse after she arrived at the parking lot of her apartment complex, according to court documents.
The woman fought free after Benavidez grabbed her, but he knocked her down, punched her in the face, grabbed her purse and ran to a car, which Jimenez was driving, according to court documents.
Jimenez, 23, who was convicted last month of murder for driving the getaway car following the August 2007 shooting death of Glendale hairdresser Faviola Hernandez.
By Ana Breton, Jason Bergreen and Erin Alberty
The Salt Lake Tribune
Article Last Updated: 07/07/2008 03:44:15 PM MDT
Updated: 1:21 PM- One adult and three juveniles have been arrested on suspicion of murder in the drive-by shooting death Sunday of a 7-year-old Salt Lake City girl.
Frank Benavidez, 20, was arrested and booked into the Salt Lake County jail and suspicion of first-degree homicide. The juveniles -- Gabriel Magallon, 17; Mae Johnson, 16; and Tiona Vigial, 16 -- also are in custody, suspected of first-degree homicide.
The Salt Lake City Police Department identified the victim as Maria Del Carmen Menchaca. Family friend Elva Reynaga said the girl was a second-grader at Riley Elementary.
Investigators also have recovered a gun linked to the shooting, according to Salt Lake City police spokeswoman Jordan Smith. The Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office is scheduled to screen the case Wednesday.
Menchaca was playing on a sidewalk outside her home at Fremont Avenue and 800 West around 6:30 p.m. when someone fired a round from a passing black SUV -- a Cadillac Escalade or Ford Excursion, police said.
Benavidez is believed to be the driver of the SUV, a jail booking document states.
According to booking information, one of the juveniles pointed a gun in the direction of another juvenile near the home and fired one shot. The bullet hit the girl.
Minutes after the shooting, the victim's relatives ran beneath police tape and struggled with officers as they gathered outside the home. Many shrieked and fell to the ground upon news of the girl's death. Her body lay on the sidewalk, shrouded by white fabric panels set up by investigators.
Police said the shooting is gang-related and may stem from threats reported in the neighborhood earlier in the day. Investigators would not say whether the alleged threats were directed at the family of the little girl, but they did say it is unlikely she was the shooter's target.
Salt Lake City police Lt. Isaac Atencio said police believe they know the identity of at least one person behind the shooting, as well as the gang with which he may be affiliated. However, he would not name the suspect or the gang.
On Monday, a make-shift memorial of flowers and candles leaned against a wire fence near the family's street corner home. A prayer vigil was scheduled for 7 p.m. tonight, Velasquez said.
Multiple neighbors said there appeared to be a growing gang problem in the neighborhood, claiming crowds of "little gang-bangers" have been frequenting the intersection where the girl was shot.
"It's just bound to get worse -- revenge against revenge against revenge," said one neighbor who did not want to be identified for fear of gang retaliation. "You don't want to let your kids play outside. Bullets don't have eyes."
Family who gathered at the scene declined to comment. One woman who said she was acquainted with the family said the girl and her mother were from Mexico.
"She was just a little girl," said Mario Varela, 18, who said he is a friend of the victim's family. "She was a good kid. A very, very friendly girl."
Benavidez - aka Felipe Alarcon Jimenez - was deported last year in connection with felony convictions in two Salt Lake City cases, according to court records.
In June 2006, Benavidez pleaded guilty to third-degree felony counts of aggravated assault and discharging a firearm from a vehicle or highway. As part of a plea deal, two other aggravated assault charged and three other firearm discharge counts were dismissed.
Benavidez had fired five shots at another man, according to 3rd District Court records, following an earlier incident where Benavidez had tried to kiss a woman, which precipitated a fight.
Benavidez also pleaded guilty to third-degree felony failure to stop at the command of a police officer. Prosecutors dismissed three counts of retaliation of a witness, victim or informant and two misdemeanors.
In that case, Benavidez fled in a car when police arrived to question him about a report of a person brandishing a gun. Benavidez sped away, then fled on foot after colliding with another car. He ran into a home, where he changed clothes and threatened to harm the occupants if they cooperated with police, according to court documents.
Judge Deno Himonas sentenced Benavidez in both cases to be deported, which occurred a month later, according to court records.
Himonas ordered Benavidez not to return illegally to United States and issued a $25,000 bench warrant in case he did return.
In yet a third case, Benavidez was charged in October 2006 with aggravated kidnapping, robbery and assault. That case was dismissed two months later because prosecutors were unable to locate the victim.
Benavidez and Jesus Alarcon Jimenez attacked a woman and stole her purse after she arrived at the parking lot of her apartment complex, according to court documents.
The woman fought free after Benavidez grabbed her, but he knocked her down, punched her in the face, grabbed her purse and ran to a car, which Jimenez was driving, according to court documents.
Jimenez, 23, who was convicted last month of murder for driving the getaway car following the August 2007 shooting death of Glendale hairdresser Faviola Hernandez.
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