Unified police searching for killer in Midvale homicide

(Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune) With bags of evidence already collected sitting on the porch, Police investigators search the apartment at 6999 State Street, #1503 for further evidence of a murder, Sunday, August 26, 2012 in Midvale.

Unified police Sunday were investigating who shot and killed a 31-year-old man at a Midvale apartment complex overnight.

Police said the victim, Justen L. Lefave, answered the door of his apartment at 6999 S. State St. around 5:25 a.m.

Photos

When he opened the door, police said he had a conversation with an unidentified man. That man then shot Lefave and fled the scene in a GMC tan-colored Yukon with chrome rims and tinted windows.

Lefave was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The slaying left neighbors apartment complex shocked and baffled as to who would want to kill the man.

Neighbors said they didn't hear any shots or any sounds of conflict and didn't know anything was wrong until police knocked at their door early Sunday.

Cambree Phommabout said Lafave had lived in the complex for almost three years and was a great neighbor.

Mercedes Fisher said Lafave shared the apartment with another man and the man's teenage son, who were also reportedly home when Lafave was shot to death.

"They are such nice neighbors," she said.

Phommabout said Lafave knew every child in the complex by name and they used to stop by to see him while he was outside with his dog, Peaches. She said Lefave adored his orange and white Pomeranian.

story continues below

"He was the most friendly person who lived in this complex," Phommabout said.

By midafternoon, police continued to comb through the apartment when Lefave was shot. Crime scene tape roped off the apartment and part of a nearby pool.

Phommabout said police had discovered a pair of men's shorts and what looked like a T-shirt in a trash can near the pool, which is just yards from the scene of the shooting, and appeared to be treating them as possible evidence.

Police are searching for a bald, white male with no facial hair. The shooter is described as having a heavy build and tattoos. Police are also seeking to speak with two females who were with the shooter at the time of the incident.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 801-743-7000.

jstecklein@sltrib.com

Twitter @sltribjanelle

Copyright 2012 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Read More @ Source



Criminal Stories Here

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Homicide victim found at vacant Everett house

Image
EVERETT -- Police on Wednesday were canvassing the View Ridge-Madison neighborhood in Everett after a man was found dead there the night before. A neighbor spotted the man on the ground outside a vacant house at 22 Madison St. He called 911 about 6:20 p.m. The man had obvious signs of trauma to his torso, police said. He looked to be in his late 20s or early 30s. The Everett Major Crimes Unit is investigating the death as a homicide, Lt. Robert Goetz said. Detectives declined to say more about how they believe the man may have died. There are no identified suspects or motives. Detectives received a search warrant around 11:45 p.m. Tuesday and collected evidence at the scene. They returned Wednesday afternoon to look for clues in the daylight, Goetz said. The victim's identity had not been determined as of late Wednesday afternoon. The body was turned over to the Snohomish County Medical Examiner's Office. Anyone with information is asked to call 425-257-8450. Rikki King: 425-
Keep reading

Manslaughter charges possible in boy's death

Image
Published: Thursday, August 23, 2012, 5:55 p.m. MONROE -- Detectives believe a 7-year-old Monroe boy's parents should face second-degree manslaughter charges in connection with his January overdose death. Monroe police this week wrapped up their probe into the boy's Jan. 30 death and forwarded the case to prosecutors to decide if his parents should face criminal charges. Snohomish County deputy prosecutor Lisa Paul likely will begin reviewing the case in the coming days. She doesn't expect to make a charging decision in the near future, however. "It's quite an extensive investigation, and I want to review it thoroughly before I make any decision," she said. The boy, identified as "A.J." in court papers, ingested a lethal amount of salicylates, a chemical common in aspirin and other over-the-counter drugs. The medical examiner declined to conduct an autopsy on the boy, making it difficult to determine how the drug ended up in the boy's system. A
Keep reading