News

Actions

Charging documents offer new details in alleged murder of teen siblings

Posted at 3:37 PM, Jul 21, 2016
and last updated 2016-07-22 01:43:40-04

MIDVALE, Utah — A man has been formally charged with murdering two teenage siblings, and according to the charging documents the suspect attempted to continue firing on both teens after they had fallen to the ground while hugging each other.

Mario Cervantes-Angel, 28, faces two counts of criminal homicide/aggravated murder, one count of obstruction of justice and one count of possession of a firearm by a restricted person.

According to charging documents filed in court Wednesday, witnesses reported that the suspect and several others came to a residence at 759 West Center Street on July 6 and confronted three teenagers, including 15-year-old Abril Izazaga and 16-year-old Jose Izazaga. Police stated previously the altercation may have been over some money owed for a T-shirt.

The suspect and others in his group became engaged in a physical and verbal altercation with the teens, and witnesses stated that Cervantes-Angel grabbed Abril by the hair and slammed her against a brick wall.

Jose responded to the violence against his sister by producing a knife, and the PC statement says he attempted to defend Abril. Cervantes-Angel then produced a handgun and shot both teens multiple times.

Witnesses told police the siblings were hugging each other as they were shot, and they stated that after the teens fell to the ground, Cervantes-Angel walked over to them and tried to fire more shots.

Witnesses said they saw him, “place the gun directly against Jose Izazaga’s head while Jose was on the ground and pull the trigger, but the gun jammed and did not fire.”

Abril was pronounced dead at the scene and Jose died after being taken to a hospital.

The suspects fled the scene, and Cervantes-Angel was later located at a family member’s residence and arrested. Police were not able to locate the gun used in the alleged murders.

The PC statement notes Cervantes-Angel entered the United States unlawfully and is a category I Restricted Person. The man goes by the following aliases: Oliver Romero-Ruiz, Oliver Romero, Oliver Ruiz, Mario Angel and Mario Cervantes.