SALT LAKE CITY — A 39-year-old Kearns woman has been charged with attempted murder for her alleged role in a violent car chase that also involved her 19-year-old son, according to court records.
Bernadette Martinez was charged Monday in connection with the May 10 incident that began at a West Valley City Maverik station and involved several shots fired at the victim's car, one of which shattered the rear window and narrowly missed one of three occupants, police say.
Martinez's son, Jake “Troubles” Duran, was charged with attempted murder on May 13 in connection with the same incident.
According to charging documents, one of the victims, a woman, was walking out of the Maverik store at 4800 W. 4700 South and noticed behind her car a black Honda Civic that was driven by Martinez.
When the victim pulled out of the gas station, Martinez allegedly cut her off, and another car, a Chevy Impala with four male occupants, had also showed up. Martinez pulled alongside the victim vehicle, keeping it from turning, and the second vehicle kept the victim from driving forward.
The victim managed to get by the vehicles and fled, heading east on 4745 South. Both vehicles followed. Through her rear-view window, the victim told police she saw Duran sitting on the ledge of the Impala’s passenger window, allegedly shooting at her car. When a bullet shattered her rear window, she swerved.
A witness told police she saw a black car with four male occupants, one of whom was standing up through the sunroof, who fired two or three shots at the vehicle being chased.
According to court documents, officers found a .380 shell casing in the road, and a witness handed them another casing. Police said it appeared that a bullet struck the victim's vehicle’s trunk, was deflected into the rear window and struck the headrest of the rear passenger seat. Police found the bullet’s copper jacket on the back seat and the slug behind the headrest.
Police say the victim identified Duran in a photo lineup and police found a Civic in the driveway of the defendants’ residence and an Impala in the garage.
Martinez has also been charged with two counts of second-degree felony discharge of a firearm. Attempted murder is a first-degree felony.
E-mail: lbrubaker@desnews.com