In the early morning hours of August 3, 2024, 18-year-old Naod Welday, a Black male, was fatally shot in the parking lot of the Mount Olympus trailhead in Salt Lake City, Utah. The incident unfolded after an altercation between Welday and his friends and another group of individuals.
Welday and his friends were outside their vehicle when two males approached and questioned them about any gang affiliation. When they denied any such ties, one of Welday's friends was assaulted, prompting him to flee and hide. Welday and another friend then locked themselves inside their car for safety. The assailants, who were in two cars, began searching for the friend who had run away. Shortly after, four males returned to Welday's vehicle and forcibly broke the windows to gain entry.
A chilling 911 call made by Welday captured the sounds of the attackers pounding on the windows and the victims screaming as they were being assaulted. During the chaotic attack, multiple gunshots were fired. Naod Welday, who was in the driver's seat, was struck by gunfire multiple times and died at the scene. His friend in the passenger seat was reportedly hit in the head with a hammer but managed to escape.
Authorities later arrested and filed charges against four individuals in connection with the murder. The suspects were identified as Mateo Heriberto Martinez, Alex Ruiz-Martinez, and a juvenile. Later, a fourth suspect, 17-year-old Christian De La Rosa, was also charged as an adult. The charges against the suspects include murder and aggravated kidnapping, with gang enhancements. Investigators have stated that while the suspects are documented gang members, Naod Welday and his friends were not believed to have any gang involvement.
