TAYLORSVILLE, Utah, Sept. 5, 2019 (Gephardt Daily) — Two men have been arrested in connection with drive-by shootings in Taylorsville on Monday and Wednesday.
Edward Jose Peralta-Moran, 19, booked on suspicion of:
- 12 counts of felony discharge of a firearm, a first-degree felony
- Possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person, a second-degree felony
- Theft by receiving stolen property, a second-degree felony
Ramon Casarez Avila, 21, was booked on suspicion of:
- 12 counts of felony discharge of a firearm, a first-degree felony
- One count of theft by receiving stolen property, a second-degree felony
The drive-by shootings happened near 4750 Chanelle Drive. The arrest took place Thursday night in Midvale after investigators recognized the car — driven by Peralta-Moran with Avila as a passenger — as a vehicle alleged to be involved in the drive-by incidents.
“After establishing surveillance on the vehicle, a traffic stop was conducted at which time a stolen handgun was thrown from the passenger side of the vehicle,” says a statement released Thursday after the Wednesday night arrest by the Unified Police Department.
“The occupants were safely taken into custody. A search warrant was secured for the vehicle, and a second stolen handgun was located inside the vehicle.”
Acting on further information developed during the investigation, officers obtained a search warrant for a residence in Sandy.
“During the execution of that search warrant, additional firearms were found, as well as ammunition and drugs. The calibers of the firearms found in the vehicle and at the residence were consistent with weapons used the night of Sept. 3. Two of the handguns recovered were reported stolen from a gun range in Sandy on Sept. 4.”
A probable cause filed by a UPD officer on the case says that, post Miranda, Peralta-Moran “told me that those guys in Taylorsville tried to kill me. I asked him to clarify and he told me that they shot at him, hitting the rear of his Mercedes.”
Peralta-Moran told the officer he was shot at on Friday night at Settlers Point Apartments, on 4700 S. Redwood. Peralta-Moran said the bullets were still in the car.
“Peralta told me he paid someone to shoot up the house on Tuesday 9/3/2019. Jose said he was in the car at the time of the drive by.”
Peralta-Moran told the officer the car used in the shooting was the same one officers had stopped him in.
“Jose said he let the guys he paid use his gun.”
Peralta-Moran also confirmed the gun he tossed out of the car during the police stop was the one used in the drive-by shootings, the probable cause statement says.
“… he said yes. I asked Peralta if he tossed the gun out of the car when he
was stopped and he said yes, he got scared. The mentioned gun was later found to be stolen.”
Peralta-Moran told the officer that Avril had been the driver during both drive-by shootings, which targeted a residence with multiple people inside.
Bail for Peralta-Moran and Avila was set at $50,000.
