WEST VALLEY CITY — An argument over gang affiliation appears to have prompted a deadly shooting at a West Valley bus stop last month.
Marco Cardenas, 22, was shot and killed June 10 at a Utah Transit Authority bus stop near 3500 South and 5600 West. Police arrested a 15-year-old boy, who has since turned 16, who was later charged with murder in 3rd District Juvenile Court.
The Deseret News has chosen not to name the boy at this time.
According to a newly released search warrant affidavit, the boy got on a bus that Cardenas was riding and the two got into an argument.
"According to multiple witnesses on the bus who were in close proximity to (the teen) and Marco, the two were engaged in a confrontational argument regarding gang affiliations. As the bus continued along its established route, (the teen) and Marco agreed to fight one another at the next bus stop," the affidavit states.
Once they got off the bus, the teenager fired several shots, striking and killing Cardenas, according to the warrant.
Despite the gang-related tattoos on his hands, the boy denied being in a gang, police said.
As part of their investigation, West Valley police detectives wanted to check the boy's Facebook page. They sent orders to Facebook's headquarters to preserve the page so that no information would be deleted and served a search warrant so they could read the messages and look at the pictures on his Facebook wall, the warrant states.
"Your affiant believes that there will be photos further identifying his status with the gang. Your affiant also knows that social media will be used to openly speak about crimes committed or gang activity," an officer wrote in the affidavit.
Police interviewed the victim's mother who told them that "Marco was a member of many gangs in the Salt Lake Valley" but was mainly a “'follower' and would join random gangs for friendship."
West Valley police also served a search warrant at Facebook headquarters to look at Cardenas' page, which included a photo of him flashing gang signs, the warrant states.
"These photos will further (the) investigation into the gang affiliation that led to Marco’s death," the officer wrote.
Prosecutors may seek to have the teen certified to stand trial as an adult.
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