Noel Munoz Lopez, 34, was charged Friday in the fatal shooting of an 82-year-old West Valley City man in October.
On Oct. 4, officers were dispatched at about 7:10 a.m. to a report of gunfire near 3800 South and 4200 West. Upon arrival they found Farrell Bartschi, 82, who had been shot in the torso.
Investigators determined Lopez fired three shots at Bartschi that morning when the 82-year-old passed Lopez’s relatives’ house on his morning walk, court documents state.
Lopez’s family then came out of the house and confronted him, and Lopez immediately fled the area in his vehicle. Lopez’s relatives attempted to render aid to Bartschi, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police documents state that Lopez allegedly committed the crime while on parole, and that Bartschi was a “total stranger” to him. Lopez is also listed as a restricted person due to previous convictions of “at least four violent felonies,” including attempted homicide.
Lopez was charged with first-degree felony murder, use of a firearm by a restricted person and two counts of felony discharge of a firearm. He is currently in custody at the Salt Lake County Jail.
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