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MILLCREEK — The shooting death of a 14-year-old boy in the parking lot of a Millcreek apartment complex may have been part of an ongoing conflict between two rival gangs that included another killing earlier this year, police say.
Although detectives say they are still investigating John Mula's association with gangs, Unified police said Wednesday that his shooting death "was not random. It was targeted," and said a gun was found on the ground near where John was shot. As of Wednesday, police were still investigating whether that gun belonged to John.
John was shot and killed at the Monaco Apartments, 4115 S. 430 East, on Aug. 25.
Jayvon Dajon Cooper, 20, and Jaden Dino Papenfuss, 17, are each charged with murder, a first-degree felony; obstruction of justice, a second-degree felony; and five counts of shooting a gun, a third-degree felony, in John's death. Papenfuss' mother, Whitney Michelle Vasquez, 36, was charged Monday with three counts of obstruction of justice, a second-degree felony. Papenfuss turns 18 in two weeks.
Four others, ranging in ages from 14 to 17, are listed as co-defendants. Three of those teens are charged with murder with gang enhancement penalties, according to charging documents filed in 3rd District Juvenile Court. One of those boys turned 14 on the day of the shooting.
When questioned by police, Papenfuss said he had a "plan to go make a music video" on the day of the shooting. He initially claimed that after picking up those who were going to be in the video, he made a wrong turn into an apartment complex and suddenly there were gunshots, according to charging documents.
In the court documents for the teens, however, one of the boys charged with murder was asked about gangs. He told police that the shooting at the Monaco Apartments "is retaliation" for the killing of a man who belonged to a gang that the teenager's gang "looks up to."
Raoul Bedoang, 17, who is a documented gang member, is charged with murder and 18 other felony charges for a drive-by shooting on May 30 near the Murray North Station of TRAX at the intersection of Fireclay Avenue and Birkhill Boulevard. Abdiaziz Abdirahman, 21, was killed and three others were injured, including a 14-year-old boy who was shot in the back. John Mula was not involved in the incident on May 30.
Gangs are recruiting younger, police warn amid rash of youth violence in Salt Lake Valley
A recent rash of violence in the Salt Lake Valley involving teens and young adults has the county's top law enforcers calling for stronger legislation and more funding.Unified police say the two gangs involved in both shootings have been involved in an ongoing conflict that includes several other incidents.
"Papenfuss denied being a member of the criminal street gang … but said he kicks it with a lot of different gang members," he told police when questioned, according to court documents. But prosecutors say Papenfuss is a documented gang member and that he and Cooper were hanging out with three younger teens "under the guise of 'smoking' for celebration of one of the (boy's) 14th birthday, and with plans of shooting a music video. However, chats from the day prior involving all five parties show that there was discussion of a future confrontation with (John Mula) involving a firearm."
Both police and prosecutors say it is "common strategy" for older gang members to recruit younger members and convince them to commit crimes or take responsibility for crimes because the juvenile justice system is more lenient than it is for adults.
Charging documents also state that Cooper referred to John Mula by a moniker, and in a social media message "about 18 hours before the shooting, Cooper tells the other four defendants in gang lingo in the chat to bring him a gun because (John) is near his home."
The men charged with murder as adults are scheduled to make their initial appearances in court next week.
