CRIME
Man From Heber City Charged With Murder In Shooting Death Of 7-Year-Old
Jul 13, 2021, 5:57 PM
| Updated: 9:33 pm
Zaydanielys Rodriguez was fatally shot inside her apartment Friday. (Used by permission, Danny Rodriguez)
(Used by permission, Danny Rodriguez)
HEBER CITY, Utah – Prosecutors upgraded charges against the gunman accused of killing a 7-year-old girl in Heber City.
Police originally booked Christopher O’Connell into jail on suspicion of manslaughter. On Tuesday, prosecutors charged him with first-degree murder.
Police said O’Connell and Colin Howells were both drunk when O’Connell fired the shot inside their apartment.
From left to right: Trever Joe Pinter, Christopher Robert O’Connell, Colin David Howells
The bullet went through a wall and hit 7-year-old Zaydanielys Rodriguez.
The little girl was rushed to the hospital but didn’t survive.
Howells is also facing criminal charges, including intoxication.
A third suspect was charged with obstruction of justice.
