CRIME, POLICE + COURTS
Two men arrested for double murder in Draper
Apr 7, 2022, 8:09 PM | Updated: Dec 30, 2022, 11:20 am
(File: Police and medics on the scene of a deadly shooting at 11464 Cranberry Hill in Draper on Sunday. Photo: Kiersten Nunez, KSL TV)
(File: Police and medics on the scene of a deadly shooting at 11464 Cranberry Hill in Draper on Sunday. Photo: Kiersten Nunez, KSL TV)
DRAPER – Two young men could face aggravated murder charges after police say they shot and killed two victims after a party in Draper broke out over the weekend. However, their investigation is not over, so there are many details they’re not ready to release, yet.
Witnesses have reported hearing about ten shots fired by a home near Vista Way and Cranberry early Sunday morning as the party was ending. One victim died at the scene, while the other died from his injuries the following morning. They were later identified as Austin Powell and Jonathan Fuentes.
Draper Police Chief John Eining says they got a lot of information from the other partygoers.
“The investigation, up to this point, included many hours of interviews from those attending the party. From these interviews, specific suspect information was obtained,” he says.
One suspect, 18-year-old Ashtyn Ortega was arrested in Herriman without incident. The other suspect, also 18, was arrested in Lehi.
Eining says, “The name of this individual will not be released as he was 17 years-old when he committed the crime.”
Draper Police say two men were arrested for a double murder after a weekend party. It reportedly happened after a disagreement over bottles being thrown after a party. pic.twitter.com/b9UhkAC301
— Paul Nelson (@KSLPaul) April 7, 2022
Police were still collecting evidence from the homes of the suspects during a press conference where Eining announced the two had been arrested. Because the investigation is still on-going, there were many details Eining would not release. For instance, he would not specify if Powell or Fuentes was the intended target. However, investigators believe they know the motive for the shooting.
“I think the motive for the incident started just because of a disagreement as the party was breaking up. So, we think it really was just about the disagreement, specific to do with bottles being thrown in the road,” according to Eining.
He also wouldn’t say if Ortega or the other suspect was the shooter, but, both will be screened for aggravated murder.
Eining says, “Those are the charges we’re going to be screening with the District Attorney’s Office. Of course, the final determination on those charges will be by the District Attorney’s Office.”
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