Newly unsealed charges say West Point veteran's doorbell camera 'recorded the murder'

WEST POINT — Charges unsealed this week claim a doorbell camera captured what appears to be a targeted shooting that led to the death of a veteran in Davis County in May.

Axel Eduadro Chavez, 24, of Canoga Park, California, was charged in 2nd District Court on June 16 with murder with a dangerous weapons enhancement and discharge of a firearm causing serious injury, first degree-felonies; and obstruction of justice and dangerous weapon conduct by a restricted person, second-degree felonies. The charges were unsealed on Thursday.

Chavez is accused of shooting and killing James Randell "Randy" Witten near 2000 West and 200 North on May 30. According to the charges, Witten's "Ring camera recorded the murder."

Video footage shows Witten was on his porch with his back to the street hanging a porch decoration when a maroon 2012 Honda Civic parked across the street drove up to the home.

"A male leapt out of the front passenger seat and moved towards James firing approximately 10 rounds and killing James from behind," the charges said. The shooter went back to the car, and the driver sped away.

It is unclear if Witten was specifically targeted in the shooting as prosecutors said Chavez has no known ties to Utah.

Police received reports shortly after of a matching Civic with its license plate covered by something orange driving "erratically" nearby. Another witness saw a passenger throwing items out of the vehicle, including donuts, a beanie, a bandana and gloves, according to the charges.

Surveillance footage from a business near an I-15 on-ramp recorded a passenger exiting the Civic and taking off orange tape that was on the license plate. The plate was recorded as heading south on I-15 and entering Las Vegas hours after the shooting.

The Honda Civic was located on June 16 with Chavez inside, and he was arrested. He was booked into a Las Vegas Jail last month before being transferred to the Davis County Jail on June 29.

License plate readers show Chavez came to West Point directly from Nevada, arriving only eight hours before the shooting and leaving immediately after, according to a motion for pretrail detention. Prosecutors argued since he is from El Salvador and recently fled from California, where he was on probation, he could flee the country if released.

Chavez made his initial appearance in court Wednesday, where he was ordered to stand trial. His arraignment is scheduled for Monday, July 13.

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