3 Arrested In Connection To 19-Year-Old West Valley City Man’s Death
Oct 24, 2019, 12:58 PM | Updated: 3:02 pm
Neko Jardine (Photo courtesy of Neko Jardine's family)
(Photo courtesy of Neko Jardine's family)
WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah – Police on Thursday said three people have been arrested in connection with the murder of 19-year-old Neko Jardine.
West Valley City Police officials said 18-year-old Jose Perez, 21-year-old Arnol Perez-Zelaya and 19-year-old Luis Sebastian-Enciso were taken into custody on charges of murder, attempted homicide and obstruction.
According to the WVCPD, investigators are working to determine whether more suspects are connected.
Investigators said two 9mm weapons were used in the shooting and they had identified a red sedan as a suspect vehicle.
Police said Perez emerged as a suspect after a multiagency investigation and further forensic analysis solidified his connection to the case.
Forensic analysis also linked Perez-Zelaya and Sebastian-Enciso to the case, police said. Investigators said they found a stolen 9mm weapon in Sebastian-Enciso’s home while executing a search warrant.
That weapon will be tested to determine if it is connected to the case.
All three men were taken into custody on Wednesday.
Jardine was killed after an altercation outside a party at a West Valley City home in July.
Police said Jardine died after being shot during a fight he tried to break up on July 14. Two other people were injured during the shooting.
“He broke the fight up and that wasn’t what people wanted to happen and so they came back with guns and shot him six times,” said Jardine’s cousin, Stefie Munk. “He was not affiliated with gangs, he did not do drugs, he did not drink alcohol. He was a very good kid and just wanted to keep people safe.”
She said Jardine lived with and took care of his grandmother, who raised him in West Valley City.
