SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Aug. 25, 2025 (Gephardt Daily) — A Third District Court jury on Friday found Guillermo William Herrera, 23, guilty of first-degree felony murder for the death of Oscar Avila Jr. at a Midvale wedding.
On November 6, 2021, the defendant and two codefendants, all associates of the Dogtown gang, crashed a wedding celebration in Midvale, a statement from the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office says.
“Friends and family of the couple confronted the codefendants and ordered them to leave. Herrera exited the building and was waiting outside when the codefendants exited, shouting their gang name and arguing with the partygoers,” the release says. “Once outside, one of the codefendants flashed a pistol he had concealed in his waistband. Herrera also produced a handgun, and the married couple’s son, Oscar Avila, Jr., rushed him.
“Herrera was captured on video pistol-whipping Avila before Avila fell to the ground. Herrera fired a single shot at Avila’s chest before Herrera and the codefendants fled. Avila died at the scene.”
The jury found Herrera guilty of first-degree felony murder, second-degree felony possession of a firearm by a restricted person, second-degree felony obstructing justice, and third-degree felony aggravated assault.
Sentencing for the defendant is scheduled for Oct. 20, 2025.
The cases against the codefendants, Daniel Brando Garcia and Troy Latorio Kajiyama, are still making their way through the criminal justice system, the release says.
“Weddings are meant to be a time of celebration for all those in attendance, and instead the defendant decided to turn this one into a tragedy,” said Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill, in the prepared statement.
“Our hearts go out to the family of Mr. Avila and hope that this conviction helps them start to heal from the devastation of his death.”
Gill thanked prosecutors Karissa McKinney and Brad Cooley, and their support staffs, “for their years of work on this case and for securing this decisive conviction. We thank the detectives at Unified Police Department for conducting a thorough investigation that helped secure justice for Mr. Avila’s family and loved ones.”
