Two Utah teens have been charged as adults with murder in connection with the killing of 21-year-old Alexzia “Alex” Franco, who was fatally shot and whose body was later dumped in a Utah County field on St. Patrick’s Day.
The boys — Rohan Sharoon and Pedro Alexis Romero-Bustos, both 17 — each face charges of murder and aggravated robbery, first-degree felonies; obstruction of justice, a second-degree felony; and abuse or desecration of a body, a third-degree felony.
Sharoon, of Salt Lake City, was also charged with possession of a gun by a restricted person, a second-degree felony. He turned 17 the day after the killing.
Another teen, who turned 16 on Tuesday, is also being investigated in connection to the killing. Authorities suspect the 16-year-old pulled the trigger. The boy was in custody as of Wednesday but had not been charged as an adult, 3rd District Court records indicate.
Before the killing, Franco had planned to buy a gun from the teens. On March 17, Franco got into a white Jeep near 3800 West and 5700 South, Franco’s girlfriend told police. The three teens were inside the vehicle.
At some point, Franco and the three boys “appeared to be arguing,” the girlfriend said. As the Jeep sped away with Franco still inside, she heard “a loud noise” that “sounded like a gunshot,” according to court documents.
(Jenkins-Soffe Funeral Chapel) Alexzia “Alex” Franco, who was killed on March 17, 2023. Two 17-year-olds have been charged as adults in connection with his killing.
Police obtained surveillance video of the Jeep driving away, which captured a sound “consistent with a gunshot.” According to a probable cause statement, Franco was killed by a single gunshot to the left side of his head, which was fired at close range.
Franco’s girlfriend identified the Jeep’s driver as Sharoon through social media, court documents state.
Later that day, police found the Jeep at a Salt Lake City home. The floor of the vehicle was stained with blood, police noted.
The lower portion of the vehicle had also been painted blue — the paint was still wet and “showed visible brush strokes.” The now-16-year-old later told police he painted the Jeep.
His girlfriend, who had loaned him the vehicle, told police the teen said he shot Franco because Franco was going to rob him. She also told police that she and the then-15-year-old painted her Jeep at the direction of one of Romero-Bustos’ uncles, “who instructed them to paint and then burn the vehicle.”
While seeking search warrants for the home where the Jeep was found, police learned that Sharoon had turned himself in to Taylorsville police. He led officers to a field off State Route 73 in Utah County, where Franco’s body had been dumped.
Sharoon told police that he was the driver and that the then-15-year-old shot Franco.
Once taken into custody, the youngest teen told police he picked up Sharoon and Romero-Bustos and told them he had a “play” to sell Franco a gun.
Romero-Bustos, of West Valley City, told police that he, Sharoon and the then-15-year-old decided to rob Franco. The youngest teen was sitting in the back seat when Franco climbed in to join him there, where the two began to argue.
Romero-Bustos said that when he turned around to look in the back seat, he was pepper-sprayed, then heard a loud bang and saw Franco slouched in the back seat with his head down.
After driving to Utah County to dump Franco’s body, the three split the money Franco had given Sharoon for the gun, according to Romero-Bustos, who added that his share was $100.
Romero-Bustos, Sharoon and the now-16-year-old are all being held without bail, court records indicate. Sharoon made his first court appearance on Wednesday; Romero-Bustos is scheduled to make his first court appearance on Thursday.
According to his obituary, Franco “lived his life without fear and was compassionate about the people he loved.”
“He stood up for those who needed a friend, a shoulder to cry on, and you could always count on him putting a smile on your face,” the obituary states. Funeral services are scheduled for Saturday.
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