SALT LAKE CITY — The boyfriend of a woman shot and killed outside a Sandy house may have become a second fatal victim if he hadn't faked being shot, according to newly released court documents.
Candice Melo, 26, was shot and killed in a driveway at 343 E. Gary Ave. (9560 South) while allegedly fleeing from Larry Kent Graff, 52, according to prosecutors. Graff was charged in 3rd District Court with murder and attempted murder, both first-degree felonies.
According to a newly unsealed search warrant, the dispute between Melo and Graff started inside the house.
A woman who was living at the house told investigators that Melo and two other men, including Melo's boyfriend, "attempted to take money, narcotics, computers, and cellphones from (Graff), and a physical struggle ensued," according to the warrant.
"There may have been shots fired inside the home," the woman told police.
The boyfriend, identified in court documents as "Mike," however, said he was in a room with Melo and could hear Graff and the other woman fighting. Melo then went to talk to the woman.
"Mike reported overhearing a discussion of trading methamphetamine for a cellular phone. He went into the room to see (the woman) lying on the bed, holding a handgun, and (Melo) was standing above (her)," the warrant affidavit stated.
After the gun was placed on the bed, Mike said he grabbed it "to prevent anyone from using it," according to court documents.
Mike said he told Melo to leave the house, but she "started yelling at (the woman) about money owed, stating she was going to take a laptop as payment, and took one or two cellphones as well," according to the report.
When Graff came into the room to find out what was going on, the woman told him that Melo was "stealing their belongings," the warrant stated.
Graff pointed a gun at both Melo and her boyfriend, and then shot at both of them as they fled the house, according to prosecutors. Melo was struck in her head, hip and lower back, according to the charges.
"Mike ran to the west of the front yard, and (Graff) fired rounds at him. Mike fell to the ground, hoping to convince (Graff) he was shot. (Graff) approached him and pointed the gun at Mike on the ground, then turned and walked back into the house," the warrant stated.
Mike then checked on Melo and noted "she had been shot in the head and appeared to be deceased," according to the warrant.
According to the return on the search warrant, investigators seized two handguns from the house, a shotgun, two handgun magazines, 12 rounds of 9 mm ammunition, three rounds of shotgun ammo, and "fraudulent documents."
Prior to the shooting, Graff's house had been the target of a drug investigation, according to court documents. On Sept. 5, investigators went through the trash at the residence and found "numerous used syringes" and residue that tested positive for heroin.
A similar search was conducted Oct. 10. Investigators again found used syringes and residue that tested positive for methamphetamine, a search warrant states.
On Oct. 16, police returned with a search warrant for the house. Detectives reported seizing drug paraphernalia, "counterfeiting items," syringes, heroin, meth and multiple identification cards.
A scheduling hearing for Graff was scheduled in court for Monday.
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