Family Trying To Send 7-Year-Old Girl’s Body Back Home After She Was Shot, Killed

HEBER CITY, Utah – The Wasatch County Attorney’s Office was preparing to file formal charges in the death of a young girl after investigators say she was killed by a stray bullet that came from a neighboring apartment.

The victim’s father was raising money to send his daughter’s body back to Puerto Rico. The Rodriguez family has lived in Heber City for less than a year and he wanted to lay her to rest closer to home. 

Danny Rodriguez said his daughter, Zaydanielys Rodriguez, 7, had two younger siblings. She was a student at J.R. Smith Elementary and loved to play softball.

Officials with the Wasatch School District said they were offering grief counselors to students and staff. 

She was at home Friday night when investigators said a bullet from next door came into their apartment and hit her. 

Deputies said three men and two women were in that apartment. The women and one of the men said Christopher O’Connell and Colin Howells were heavily intoxicated and sexually assaulted the women. 

Court documents also said at one point, O’Connell waved around a handgun he shouldn’t have had. He now faces several charges, including manslaughter, intoxication and possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person.

Howells faces intoxication and sexual battery.

A third man, identified as Trevor Joe Pinter, faces obstruction of justice.