LAYTON, Utah, July 3, 2018 (Gephardt Daily) — Two teenagers are charged with attempted murder in what law-enforcement officials are calling retaliatory shootings in Layton.
Arrested in the shootings, which probable cause statements say are gang-related, are Alex Chase Lopez and Talia Chalise Aguinaga, both 18.
The charges are related to shots fired June 22 at the Quail Cove Apartments, 2090 N. Hill Field Road; on June 29 at the Ridgewood Estates mobile home park, 2875 N. Hill Field Road; and on July 1 at 366 W. Glen Ave.
According to information shared by a witness at the the third scene, the second and third shootings were in retaliation for the first, and all were gang-related.
The witness also provided information that led Layton Police officers to believe that Lopez — who police say is an admitted gang member — was the shooter in the second and third drive-by shootings.
Search warrants led to the recovery of a 9mm handgun with ammunition that matched that recovered at the July 1 shooting scene.
Lopez was arrested on two counts of first-degree attempted murder in the case, which police say targeted members of a rival gang. He also is charged with two counts of discharge of a firearm and one of possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person.
Aguinaga also was implicated in the Glen Avenue shooting by an informant. After denying involvement with the shooting or knowledge of any weapons many times, Aguinaga admitted that she drove two males to the area of the third gang-related shooting, her probable cause statement says.
“Talia said that both males got out of the vehicle and walked away,” the statement says. “A short time later both returned to her car and told her to leave because they ‘just shot up the house.’ Talia denied having knowledge that both males were going to shoot at a residence.
“However, when asked if she had a young child with her, whom she was watching at the time of the shooting, Talia responded that she would never put a child in that situation. Talia’s statement implicates her in knowing that the purpose of driving both males to the home was to engage in a shooting.”
Aguinaga reported having knowledge that one of the involved males was in possession of a handgun as recently as Wednesday, 6/27/18, the statement said.
“Furthermore, Talia knew that said male was seeking revenge for the shooting that occurred on 6/22.”
One bullet entered the residence on Glen Avenue, and went into a room occupied by an uninvolved adult, but did not hit anyone.
