The Latest: Sheriff warns residents near manhunt to lock up


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BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The Latest on a Utah shooting and Idaho manhunt (all times local):

6:10 p.m.

A California man wanted in the fatal shooting of a motorist on a desolate stretch of interstate highway near the Utah-Idaho border has been charged with aggravated murder.

Online Utah court records show prosecutors filed the charges Thursday afternoon against 45-year-old Jonathan Llana in the killing Wednesday night of 50-year-old Dennis Gwyther of Salt Lake City. The charging documents accuse Llana of firing multiple rounds at a vehicle driven by Gwyther. The passenger in the car was also injured.

Llana was also charged with one count of attempted aggravated murder. He is from Los Angeles.

Authorities were still searching for Llana in southern Idaho near a small town. They warned people that he is armed and dangerous.

Utah State Bureau of Investigation Lt. Ryan Van Fleet says Gwyther and the passenger were traveling in a Range Rover from Salt Lake City to Boise, Idaho, for work.

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1:10 p.m.

A southern Idaho sheriff is warning residents near a manhunt for a shooting suspect to keep their doors locked and be wary of strangers.

State and local law enforcement officers were still searching Cassia County early Thursday afternoon for 45-year-old Jonathan Llana, whom they consider a suspect in the shooting death of a Salt Lake City man.

Sheriff Jay Heward told The Times-News newspaper in Twin Falls that there are scattered homes in the area of the manhunt. He says residents should avoid picking up anyone seeking a ride, lock up their homes and report any missing vehicles to law enforcement.

The Idaho State Police says Llana is considered armed and dangerous, though Heward says it's not clear if the suspect still has a weapon in his possession.

Law enforcement officials say the Wednesday night shooting on Interstate 84 in northern Utah killed Dennis Gwyther of Salt Lake City and injured a passenger.

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12:25 p.m.

Authorities say a driver fatally shot on a northern Utah highway was a Salt Lake City man and that the suspect who is the subject of a manhunt in southern Idaho is a California man who is the registered owner of a car later found crashed after a pursuit.

Lt. Ryan Van Fleet of the Utah State Bureau of Investigation said authorities know of no motive for the Wednesday night shooting of Dennis Gwyther on Interstate 84 or any connection between him and the suspect, 45-year-old Jonathan Llana of Los Angeles.

Van Fleet said Gwyther and a passenger who was shot and wounded were driving to Boise, Idaho, for work when the shooting occurred after both vehicles cleared a slowdown in traffic.

Idaho troopers spotted and chased the car determined to be registered to Llana but officials say the driver fled on foot after it crashed. Authorities then launched a manhunt that continued Thursday.

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8:30 a.m.

Idaho State Police say a manhunt is underway in southern Idaho for a man suspected in a fatal shooting in Utah.

Police say 45-year-old Jonathan Llana is a homicide suspect in the case, and they describe him as being armed and dangerous.

Police say they believe Llana shot and killed someone in northern Utah near Rattlesnake Pass and then drove into Idaho.

Troopers and Cassia County Sheriff's deputies tried to stop him, but police say he fled in his vehicle before crashing into a field and taking off on foot.

They're asking anyone who spots the suspect to call law enforcement. Llana is described as being 5'10" (178 cm) tall, about 150 pounds (68 kg) with black hair and brown eyes.

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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