Charges set to be filed against suspect accused of killing U of U student

Austin Boutain. Photo Courtesy: Salt Lake County

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Nov. 16, 2017 (Gephardt Daily) — Charges are likely to be filed Thursday against the man accused of shooting and killing University of Utah student ChenWei Guo.

Austin Boutain is being held without bail in the Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of aggravated murder in the death of 23-year-old Guo during an attempted carjacking Oct. 30.

Prosecutors were given an extension in the case that gave them until Nov. 16 to file charges or seek a second extension.

Boutin was booked on suspicion of charges including:

  • Aggravated murder, a first-degree felony
  • Aggravated robbery with serious bodily injury, a first-degree felony
  • Attempted criminal homicide, a second-degree felony
  • Possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person, a second-degree felony
  • Discharge of a firearm, a third-degree felony
  • Purchase, transfer, possession, use of a firearm, a third-degree felony
  • Aggravated assault, a third-degree felony

A probable cause statement released by Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office earlier this month says that after being read his Miranda rights, Boutain, 24, admitted to shooting Guo in the victim’s vehicle on Red Butte Canyon Road with “intentions of taking his vehicle.”

The statement also says that Boutain admitted he fired two more rounds at a female witness as she ran away, with the intent to kill her so there were no witnesses.

“Boutain admitted to stealing three firearms from a residence in Colorado, one of which was recovered by police,” the probable cause statement says. “Boutain post-Miranda said he had traded one firearm, a .38 cal. Smith and Wesson, for one ounce of marijuana. The other weapon used in the homicide was hidden in the crevice of a brick wall, near the homeless shelter. Boutin returned to retrieve the weapon, and found it missing.”

Kathleen Boutain Photo Courtesy Salt Lake County

Boutain also took officers to the makeshift camp where he and his wife were staying in Red Butte Canyon, the statement said.

Once at the camp, officers found the holster and spent cartridges for a .44 caliber Ruger, which they said was used in the fatal shooting.

The statement also said that Boutain assaulted his wife with a firearm, causing injury to her.

It was just after 8:30 p.m. Oct. 30 when police were alerted to a report of domestic abuse from Boutain’s wife, Kathleen, who said the two had been camping in Red Butte Canyon. Within 15 minutes or so, a call came in reporting a shooting in the canyon, according to information released by the Salt Lake City and the University of Utah Police departments.

ChenWei Guo Photo Facebook

International student Guo — a native of China who first came to Utah as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — had been killed in a carjacking attempt. Based on information from witnesses and Kathleen Boutain, Austin Boutain became the primary suspect.

Kathleen Boutain was treated for minor injuries and taken into custody.

More than 100 police officers from many different agencies descended on the University of Utah campus and the area near Red Butte Canyon. FBI agents responded, as did law enforcement officials in helicopters and armored vehicles. Police dogs tried to sniff out the suspect.

The manhunt continued into the night and began again the next morning. Boutain was  spotted and arrested in the City Library at 210 E. 400 South early that afternoon.

Colorado connection

Mitchell Bradford Ingle Photo Golden City Police

Salt Lake City and U of U campus police learned that one or both Boutains are also wanted in a homicide investigation near Golden, Colorado. Colorado law enforcement officials conducted a welfare check on a 63-year-old man — now identified as Mitchell Bradford Ingle — after Utah police informed them that a vehicle connected to the Boutains was registered to the man, whose body was found in his recreational vehicle.

Gephardt Daily will have more on this developing story as information becomes available.

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