Police: Woman arrested for helping Riverton shooter evade arrest

Justin Llewelyn (inset) captured in Utah County. Photos: UDOT traffic camera/Salt Lake County

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Jan. 29, 2018 (Gephardt Daily) — Another suspect has been arrested after police say she assisted Riverton shooting suspect Justin Llewelyn, now in custody, in evading capture earlier.

Keria Jessica Hartley-Johnson, 35, was taken into custody in Ivins on Monday, according to a tweet from the Salt Lake City Police Department.

Johnson — who is reportedly Llewelyn’s aunt — was picked up by officials from the Ivins Police Department after a warrant was issued. She is charged with:

  • Obstructing justice, a second-degree felony
  • And retaliation against a witness or informant, a third-degree felony

Johnson reportedly boasted to another person that she had successfully hidden Llewelyn from police, and had bought him a cellphone. That person provided information to police.

Llewelyn, 33, was arrested Jan. 24 after being apprehended by police and sheriff’s officials in Spanish Fork. He was wanted for the Jan. 20 shooting of a homeowner and attempting to shoot police in Herriman and Riverton.

The communities were locked down for more than six hours while police searched a large containment area, but Llewelyn was not found.

The homeowner, who was shot because Llewelyn wanted to steal his truck, officials say, is recovering.

Arrested on Jan. 23 on suspicion of assisting Llewelyn were Riverton residents Misty and Tasha Llewelyn, ages 24 and 50.

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