Man possibly killed for making too much noise, police say

Members of law enforcement work at a home near 1700 Indiana Avenue in Salt Lake City on Friday, May 29, 2020, where a suspect in a fatal shooting near 2900 South and 3000 West in West Valley City was arrested.

WEST VALLEY CITY — West Valley police on Friday were investigating whether a man was killed by a neighbor for making too much noise.

The unusual incident happened Thursday at a home near 2900 South and 3000 West. A man was hired to do work around the resident’s house, said West Valley police spokeswoman Roxeanne Vainuku.

“The man had done work on this home previously and is reported to have developed a negative relationship with some neighbors due to noise,” she said.

Just after 4 p.m. Thursday, the worker was found unresponsive outside the home.

“Although the worker did have a visible injury, it was unclear what caused the injury. Through the course of the investigation, it was discovered that the wound was a gunshot wound,” she said.

After additional investigation, a neighbor who allegedly “had been disturbed by the construction noise” was determined to be a suspect, Vainuku said. He had fled the area.

Jesus Valdez, 30, of West Valley City, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail in connection with the shooting death of a man hired to do construction work on a home near Valdez’s.

Police developed information on Friday that the man was staying at a home near 1700 West and Indiana Avenue. Officers went to the area and arrested him.

Jesus Valdez, 30, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for a parole violation warrant. “The investigation into the homicide itself continues,” West Valley police said in a tweet announcing the arrest.

The name of the deceased worker has not yet been released.