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Ogden • A trial began Monday for a Utah man accused of firing a bullet into an acquaintance's head while they walked near the Weber River Parkway in Riverdale last year.
Whether Luciano Gabriel Silva, 25, shot and killed Horacio Mendez Sanchez on Sept. 13, 2015, is not in question, attorneys told jurors during their opening statements. But jurors must decide why: Was the fatal shot fired in self-defense — or was it a murder possibly spurred by gang-related music?
Silva is charged in Ogden's 2nd District Court with murder, a first-degree felony; two counts of obstruction of justice, a second-degree felony; and possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person. He faces up to life in prison if convicted.
Deputy Weber County Attorney Branden Miles told jurors Monday that while "there are going to be questions in the case that we won't be able to answer," there was no reason or justification for Silva to shoot a man that he knew was unarmed. The homicide, Miles said, may have been sparked by Sanchez listening to music that offended Silva, who was a member of the Nortenos street gang.
But defense attorney Sean Druyon urged the jury to not rush to judgment and told them that his client had fired in self-defense.
"There's another story here that needs to be told," he said.
Silva and Sanchez left a Riverdale home on the night of the shooting, Druyon said, to buy drugs. The dealer didn't show up, he said, and while the two were walking on the parkway, Sanchez asked to see Silva's gun. Once Sanchez got the weapon, he pointed it at Silva and demanded his money, the defense attorney said.
"All of a sudden," Sanchez turns against Silva, Druyon said. "… Luciano can't believe it."
A struggle ensued, Druyon told jurors, and Silva knocked the gun from Sanchez's hand, grabbed it off the ground and fired the weapon, a bullet striking Sanchez.
The bullet hit Sanchez in the back of the neck, went through his spine and into his mouth, according to a Utah medical examiner who testified during a preliminary hearing.
His body was found early the next morning by a Riverdale resident who was walking along the parkway.
Silva's trial is expected to continue through the week.
Twitter: @jm_miller