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Posted: 12:04 AM- A dispute over two stolen cases of beer led to the fatal shooting of 26-year-old Robert Ramirez over the weekend, the man's brother said today.

Greg Ramirez said his brother was shot in the back after arguing with several men who took beer brought to a party at 369 S. 1300 East by one of Ramirez's friends.

Robert Ramirez saw the suspects take the cases of beer outside and alerted his friend to the theft, Greg Ramirez said. Ramirez and his friend confronted the men outside the party, and several more of the suspects' friends came outside to join the argument, he said.

Someone in the group of seven suspects fired three shots, Greg Ramirez said. One of them hit Ramirez, who later died at University Hospital.

Salt Lake City police on Sunday arrested four people in connection with the shooting: Theophales Othow Kur of Murray, 20; Benjamin Valentine Calbert of Sandy, 20; and Stanley Mputu of Salt Lake City, 19; and Michael Rix, 22. The four were booked into the Salt Lake County jail on suspicion of homicide.

No bail has been set.

The shooting, just a half-block from the University of Utah, shook up neighbors who live near the duplex --many who are U of U students.

Salt Lake City Police Department spokesman Jared Wihongi said today he can't discuss a motive for the shooting or details from the incident because the case has been passed along to the district attorney's office.

Search warrants were served over the weekend. Jail booking statements say officers recovered a .38-caliber gun that matched a shell casing recovered at the scene and a slug removed from Robert Ramirez.

Greg Ramirez said today his brother's death is a shock for his family.

Robert Ramirez, a 2000 graduate of West High School in Salt Lake City, leaves behind a 2-year-old son named Bobby.

Greg Ramirez said his brother was a talented athlete who was a member of West High's football team. Robert was working as a bouncer at Lumpy's in Salt Lake City, he said.

"He was awesome. He was always into sports and lifting weights. He didn't make high-risk choices like this," said Greg Ramirez, referring to the altercation at Sunday's party.

Emily Robichaud, Ramirez's mother, said it's painful to imagine what her grandson's life will be like without a father.

"They have no souls," she said of Ramirez's killers. "I hate guns. ...It's just horrible, you know?"

Robichaud said Ramirez's funeral will likely be Wednesday or Thursday at Neil O'Donnell and Sons, 372 E. 100 South in Salt Lake City. A memorial fund has been set up for Ramirez's son at Mountain America Credit Union under the name of Robert Ramirez II.

Two of the men accused of Ramirez's murder both have criminal histories, court records show.

Kur in 2005 pleaded guilty to second-degree felony theft and burglary.

Calbert pleaded guilty to attempted theft in September 2007 and guilty to shoplifting in March 2007. He was charged in 3rd District Court earlier this month with aggravated burglary and aggravated robbery, both first degree felonies.

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