‘Be a man’: Mom says gunman in Utah shooting death should surrender
Apr 4, 2022, 6:08 PM | Updated: Jun 20, 2022, 12:41 pm
DRAPER, Utah — A second shooting victim died Monday following a shooting at an Airbnb home in Draper over the weekend, and the gunman is still on the run.
Austin Terry Powell, 27, was shot and killed near 11400 South and 280 East just before 1 o’clock in the morning on Sunday. The second victim Jonathan July Fuentes, 21, was rushed to the hospital. He died Monday.
“He’s my only child. He’s my everything,” said an emotional Nicole Ortega, who is Powell’s mother. “He had the biggest heart he loved people. He has a beautiful little girl he loved more than anything. My son didn’t deserve that. He would never hurt a soul.”
“Austin loved to live life to the fullest,” said Jeremy Powell, Austin’s uncle. “He was a great friend, he was a great cousin, a great son, going to be deeply missed.”
Draper police said the people who rented the Airbnb held a big party Saturday night. Dozens of people showed up. Police said after the shooting that carloads of people left the party.
According to a neighbor, the homeowner found out about it and arrived to break it up. As people were leaving police said an altercation started outside and then shots rang out.
“The suspect attempted to carjack some other partygoers that were leaving,” said Lt. Dustin Willie with the Draper Police Department. “They were able to get away without being harmed and kept their car. And then, the suspect ended up leaving in a different car. We don’t know if it was his vehicle or a friend’s vehicle.”
Willie said detectives were following up on several leads.
Exclusive: “This is not okay! My son didn’t deserve that. He would never hurt a soul” mom of man shot and killed at a Airbnb home in Draper. Her story tonight @KSL5TV at 6. pic.twitter.com/2ocFwVR2tk
— Dan Rascon (@TVDanRascon) April 4, 2022
Neighbor Jason Groscost says Powell was inside his Tesla which was riddled with bullet holes.
“We found the victim in his car, noticed that he didn’t have a pulse, we pulled him out and started CPR,” Groscost told KSL TV. “Stuff like this doesn’t happen here we were surprised and shocked.”
The second shooting victim was Jonathan July Fuentes, 21. He was rushed to the hospital and on Monday morning Draper police send out a notice that he had died from his injuries.
The gunman is still on the loose.
“He’s pulled a gun out he’s shot and killed two people that we know of. Obviously, we want to get him off the street,” Willie said. “We don’t know what the motive is.”
Powell’s family is pleading that the suspect does the right thing.
“Please turn yourself in that’s all I ask,” said Able Ortega, Powell’s Stepfather. “We are going to miss (Austin) very very much.”
“Stand up and be a man and take the consequences. Because that’s what men do,” said Nicole Ortega.
Powell’s family is now left wondering how to push forward.
“I don’t know what to feel. I’m angry I’m sad I’m confused,” said Nicole Ortega.
Sunday police described the gunman as Hispanic with a stocky build. He has face tattoos, including a tattoo that says “801” over one of his eyebrows.
Police say they can’t remember ever having any problems with an Airbnb home in their city.
The city told KSL that it’s planning to possibly take up the issue in its city council meeting next week.
A GoFundMe* account has been set up to help Austin’s family with funeral costs.
*KSL TV does not assure that the money deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account, you should consult your own advisors and otherwise proceed at your own risk.
