Glendale man found guilty in February 2023 shooting

GLENDALE —A Glendale man has been found guilty in 3rd District Court of charges related to a shooting that occurred in February 2023, according to Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill.

Oliver Spencer Avila, 23, was involved in a Glendale shooting that took the life of Guthrie Serawop, after an altercation.

Surveillance footage shows Avila outside with his brother Julio Steven Cardona. That’s when police said an altercation between Serawop and Cardona started. Avila then pulled out the firearm and shot Serawop several times. Medical personnel took  Serawop to the hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.

A guilty verdict was made for five felony charges against Avila, and further charges for possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person and obstruction of justice.

The court also found that Avila acted in a “manner where he believed he was justified in self-defense,” according to Gill’s office, but he was not. This is known as “imperfect self-defense.” Therefore, the jury found

Cardona also received a second-degree felony possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person, where a judge sentenced him to one to 15 years at the Utah State Correction Facility.

“This conviction helps deliver accountability and justice for Mr. Serawop’s family and loved ones,” Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill said.

“The jury’s finding that the defendant had an imperfect self-defense is contrary to what our office attempted to prove, but we accept their conclusion.”