This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
West Jordan • A man charged with murdering two teenagers in a dispute over a T-shirt will receive a public defender.
Mario Cervantes-Angel, 28, made his first court appearance here Friday morning on murder charges in the July 6 shooting deaths of 15-year-old Abril Izazaga and her brother, 16-year-old Jose Izazaga.
The charges carry the potential for the death penalty.
Cervantes-Angel, a Mexican national, told 3rd District Judge Bruce Lubeck through a translator that he could not afford to hire an attorney; in court documents, he wrote that he earned $1,600 per month as a machinist and has six children.
Cervantes-Angel also is charged with second-degree felony obstructing justice for threatening to kill others if they reported the shootings; and second-degree felony possession of a firearm by a restricted person, for being in the United States illegally.
Cervantes-Angel is being held at the Salt Lake County Jail on $2 million bail.
According to charging documents, Cervantes-Angel arrived at Mill Creek II complex, 759 W. Center St. (7720 South) about 10:45 p.m. on July 6 with a man and two women and the four confronted the Izazaga siblings and a 15-year-old boy.
The four males engaged in a verbal and physical altercation with one another, while the three females engaged in a verbal and physical altercation, charges state.
The dispute "apparently involved a T-shirt, or shirt, money owed, or missing property," Unified Police Lt. Lex Bell has said.
Cervantes-Angel then assaulted Abril Izazaga, pulling her hair and slamming her against a brick wall, charges state.
When Jose Izazaga pulled a knife and attempted to defend his sister, Cervantes-Angel pulled a handgun from his waistband and shot the two siblings multiple times, charges state.
"Witnesses stated that Abril was hugging Jose as they were shot," charges state.
After the brother and sister fell to the ground, Cervantes-Angel walked over to them and attempted to fire the gun several more times.
"Witnesses observed Cervantes-Angel place the gun directly against Jose Izazaga's head while Jose was on the ground and pull the trigger, but the gun was jammed and did not fire," charges state.
Abril Izazaga died at the scene; her brother was taken to the hospital, where he was declared dead a short time later.
As Cervantes-Angel and the three people who came with him drove from the scene, Cervantes-Angel told them "that if any of them said anything, they would be next," charges state.
Cervantes-Angel, who was dropped off at the side of the road, was later found by police at his cousin's home and arrested. Investigators have been unable to locate the gun, charges state.
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