West Valley City police and the family of a 20-year-old man who was shot to death in 2016 are asking the public for tips in the case, which has gone cold.
Javier Medina had recently celebrated his birthday and the birth of his son when he was killed on Dec. 12, 2016, as he worked on a car in a West Valley City driveway.
His family told members of the media on Thursday at the West Valley City Police Department that Medina was a loving, outgoing, funny and warm-hearted father who loved cars. He lit up any room he walked into with his “goofy smile,” said Ezme Coronado, who was Medina’s girlfriend, and his son’s mother.
Medina had the goal of opening a mechanic shop that he would pass on to his son, Coronado said. “He had big goals.”
Adrian Garlick, the lead detective on the case, said Thursday that police were “pretty close” to finding out who the shooter was, but they still are asking for the public’s help. No motive has been determined, Garlick said.
(Medina family) Javier Medina with his infant son, photographed before he was fatally shot Dec. 12, 2016.
Medina may have recognized the light-colored Cadillac that pulled up to the driveway that day, Garlick noted. Police believe there was more than one shooter who got out of the car, walked up, and shot Medina as well as a woman who was in the driveway. The woman survived.
The only description that police have of the shooters is that one was tall and one was shorter.
Anyone with tips or leads may call West Valley City police at 801-840-4000 or 801-965-5200. Tips can be given anonymously.
“We know people know who the killer is,” Garlick said. “We know there’s information out there.”
“Whether people are scared or not, come forward. ... We can move forward and give the family some justice and some peace,” Garlick continued, “and some closure to what happened and why.”