WEST JORDAN, Utah, Oct. 8, 2021 (Gephardt Daily) — Two more men have been arrested after the shooting death of a West Jordan juvenile inside his home Monday.
The victim has been identified as 17-year-old Jacob Jeremy Hansen; a 19-year-old man, Cody Elijah Ivory, was arrested Tuesday. It is believed that Ivory fatally shot Hansen.
Wilbur Allen Kerney, 19, was arrested Thursday and is facing charges of criminal homicide, a first-degree felony, and obstruction of justice, a second-degree felony. A probable cause statement for the third suspect is not yet available.
Police were called to the scene at 10:24 a.m. Monday, Kerney’s probable cause statement said, and “responded to a report of shots fired at a residence in West Jordan. The complainant reported that her juvenile son had just been shot. As officers responded, another caller reported they saw two unknown-race male subjects, wearing all back, running eastbound from the area.
“Officers arrived on scene and located the victim laying on the ground with what appeared to be a gunshot wound,” Kerney’s statement said. They then found a handgun on the ground and three spent shell casings outside the front door, according to the affidavit. Inside the front door, officers observed smeared blood on the wall, and three more shell casings on the ground.
“Medical personnel arrived on scene and began treating the victim. The victim was transported to IMC Hospital and later pronounced deceased,” the statement said.
Surveillance footage from a nearby house before the shooting shows three subjects walk to the residence, from the west, before approaching the front of the home. One of the suspects circled to the back of the house, and two stood at the front door.
“A short time later, after standing at the front door, two subjects are observed running away from the residence, eastbound,” Kerney’s statement said.
A search warrant served on the victim’s home turned up cellphones, multiple firearms, spent shell casings, drug paraphernalia and controlled substances.
“Detectives interviewed a subject who said the suspect (Ivory) was at a church with a group of people before the homicide happened,” Kerney’s statement said. “The subject said the suspect showed the group a gun and stated he was going to go look for the victim and rob him.”
Ivory was located at his girlfriend’s residence Tuesday and was taken into custody without incident. He was transported to the Salt Lake County Jail, where he is being held without bail. Ivory is facing charges of criminal homicide, a first-degree felony, felony discharge of a firearm, a first-degree felony, and obstruction of justice, a second-degree felony.
On Thursday, Ivory requested to speak with detectives once again, the statement for Kerney said. Detectives with the West Jordan Police Department reported to the Salt Lake County Jail and met with Ivory.
During the interview, Ivory allegedly “admitted to involvement in this incident,” the statements said. “The initial suspect also admitted there were two other individuals who reported to the residence with him when this incident occurred.” Ivory then said Kerney and the other suspect were with him.
Ivory said that he was carrying a Glock and that Kerney also had a Glock on his person when the incident occurred. Ivory’s probable cause statement said he allegedly stated the victim shot at him and he shot back at the victim. Ivory also allegedly admitted to his girlfriend and his sister that he shot the victim.
“The initial suspect (Ivory) further explained that he believed it was possible that the A/P (Kerney) may have also fired his gun when this incident occurred,” Kerney’s statement said.
Kerney was located Thursday and apprehended without incident.
“The A/P (Kerney) was interviewed and admitted, post Miranda to being with the initial suspect when this incident occurred,” Kerney’s statement said. “The A/P said the victim answered the door and told them to leave. The A/P described that the initial suspect and the victim became involved in a physical altercation just prior to the shooting occurring. The A/P said the shooting occurred a very short time after the physical altercation. The A/P claimed that once he heard gunshots he began to run from the residence.”
Kerney then said he was picked up in a car and left the scene with Ivory. It is not clear if the third suspect left with them.
“The A/P (Kerney) said he would not have gone to the incident location with the initial suspect had he known the initial suspect was going to rob the victim,” Kerney’s statement said. “However, the A/P admitted to having a gun on his person during this incident. The A/P also admitted he disposed of the clothing the A/P was wearing when this incident occurred, a short time after the incident.”
The charge of criminal homicide for Kerney is based on the belief that he was aware that Ivory had intentions to rob the victim.
Kerney is being held without bail at the Salt Lake County Jail.
