Teen charged as adult in fatal West Valley shooting

SALT LAKE CITY — A 17-year-old boy accused of shooting and killing an 18-year-old man during a confrontation between two groups in West Valley City will stand trial as an adult.

Deivi Perez Prado Jr., of West Valley City, was charged Friday in 3rd District Court with murder, a first-degree felony; obstructing justice, a second-degree felony; and illegal discharge of a firearm, a third-degree felony.

Prosecutors have requested Prado be held on $1 million bail.

On May 16, two groups met at Kings Pointe Park, 1330 W. Rothchild Drive (3665 South), at about 6:10 p.m. to settle an undisclosed conflict, said West Valley police spokeswoman Roxeanne Vainuku.

At some point during the confrontation, Lewis Orlando Jensen, 18, was shot and killed. Jensen was shot in the chest and died while in surgery at a local hospital, according to charging documents.

A witness told police that his group had arranged to meet Prado at the apartment complex to fight, the charges state. As the two groups “started posturing,” Prado pulled out a handgun and stated, “This is what I got this for,” according to the charges.

Prado fired one round into the air. Jensen then rushed toward Prado in an attempt to grab the gun, the charges state.

Witnesses say Jensen was “only a few feet away” when Prado “fired one round at Lewis, striking him in the chest,” according to the charges.

Other witnesses told police that Jensen was able to grab the barrel of the gun and was fighting over it with Prado when Prado shot him, the charges state.

After the shooting, Prado fled in a Chevy truck, which he later sanded and spray-painted to change its appearance, according to the charges, and then left it in an apartment complex in Taylorsville.

Pablo Andres Dominguez, 27, was arrested for investigation of obstruction of justice for helping paint the truck, according to police.

A 16-year-old was also arrested for investigation of rioting, Vainuku said.