SALT LAKE CITY — A love triangle may be a possible motive in the shooting death Thursday of a father of two who was gunned down in his driveway while waiting for a ride to work.
Juan Jose Rubio-Navaro, 32, was sitting at the edge of his driveway, 545 N. New Star Drive (1785 West) Thursday morning, waiting for co-workers to pick him up, when a car drove by and a person in the vehicle opened fire, striking him several times.
Friday, a makeshift memorial of candles and flowers was placed at the end of the driveway where Rubio-Navaro was shot.
Thursday afternoon, Salt Lake City police arrested three people, including Rubio-Navaro's wife, Marta Campusano. Campusano was arrested for investigation of obstruction of justice, and police say she "withheld information."
Jose Adrian Rodriquez-Ramirez and his roommate, 24-year-old Jose Alan Gallegos Mendoza, were booked into jail for investigation of criminal homicide. Family members say Ramirez would often pick Rubio-Navaro up for work.
Police have released very little information about the case, including a possible motive. Probable cause statements attached to the jail booking documents also reveal little about the crime. Campusano's booking sheet simply says that she "obstructed the investigation of the homicide of her husband."
The jail documents for the two men say they were "involved in the murder of" Rubio-Navaro and "participated in getting rid of the murder weapon."
After speaking with other family members and friends, Beverly Rubio, the victim's sister-in-law, said some relatives believe Marta Campusano was having a relationship with the alleged gunman, Ramirez.
When asked whether she believed Campusano had anything to do with planning her husband's death, Beverly Rubio said she didn't know.
"I hope she didn't have any involvement in it," she said.
But based on what is known about the case, Rubio said, it sounded as if the gunman had been waiting for Rubio-Navaro as if he had information about when he would be going to work.
Homicide investigators were back at the victim's house and the home of the two male suspects Friday collecting evidence, she said.
All of the parties involved know each other, she said. They all are originally from the same city in Mexico but have been living in the United States for more than a decade.
"The family is having a hard time dealing with it," Rubio said of the slaying and the arrest of Rubio-Navaro's wife. "They're taking it pretty hard."
The family hopes to set up a fund soon to help Rubio-Navaro's children. Rubio said a funeral was being planned for Monday evening with a church Mass on Sunday.
Rubio-Navaro had two young children, ages 3 and 5.
e-mail: preavy@desnews.com