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Salt Lake County prosecutors on Thursday charged a 16-year-old boy as an adult for allegedly stabbing to death a classmate after the two argued over an iPod.
Jonatan Bustos faces one count of criminal homicide murder, a first-degree felony, for allegedly stabbing to death 15-year-old Tayler Pankow outside a West Valley City Family Dollar store Monday evening.
Bustos was booked into the Salt Lake County jail Thursday and is being held on $1 million bond.
Pankow was with his twin brother, Tracy, and a few other friends Monday when he confronted Bustos in front of the store, 4720 W. 4715 South, claiming the teen had stolen his iPod, said Ricky Temple, a friend of Pankow. Pankow pushed and hit the teen, who was about the same height as Pankow but slightly heavier, Temple said.
Bustos allegedly pulled out a knife and stabbed Pankow.
According to the charging documents, Pankow was stabbed in the stomach and heart and died outside the store from the chest wound, a medical examiner determined.
Bustos told police after he was arrested that he had argued with Pankow on Aug. 27 about a stolen iPod. He said he began carrying the knife after the argument to protect himself, charging documents state.
Bustos also admitted to arguing with Pankow outside the Family Dollar store on Monday, stabbing him twice and running away.
Both boys attended Hunter High School.
Bustos will be arraigned on the murder charge in 3rd District Court Tuesday.