SOUTH SALT LAKE — Police have arrested a man in connection with the slaying of his ex-girlfriend Saturday in an apartment complex parking lot.
Apart from a few patches of dried blood, there was little sign of a dispute in front of the Sun River Apartments at 1080 W. 3300 South, where police say Salvador Landin-Castonon, 29, gunned down the 36-year-old victim shortly before 10 p.m. Police have not identified her.
Acting on a tip, investigators arrested Landin-Castonon about 1 a.m. without incident at the home of a friend in Salt Lake City, according to South Salt Lake police detective Gary Keller, who credited Salt Lake City and West Valley police with assisting in the "fast-moving investigation." Keller said police believe they have recovered the gun used in the shooting.
Residents at the complex said that while they are aware of some criminal activity there, violence is rare. One said she saw a pickup truck careening into the parking lot Saturday night, clipping a post that knocked off a side mirror.
The same woman said she heard Landin-Castonon was angry that his ex-girlfriend planned to go out that night with another man.
Keller said the victim had been attending a family gathering, but he was not sure if she lived at the complex. He said police believe she came outside to the parking lot to talk to Landin-Castonon.
She was shot several times in the torso and died in surgery at an area hospital.
Landin-Castonon was booked into Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of murder, a first-degree felony, and a third-degree felony weapons offense. He is originally from Mexico.
e-mail: pkoepp@desnews.com