On the afternoon of September 15, 2023, a verbal argument in a West Valley City neighborhood escalated into a fatal shooting that claimed the life of 21-year-old Brian Torres-Hernandez. Torres-Hernandez was in the company of his cousin near 2800 W. 2700 South when the confrontation occurred. Responding officers discovered him lying in a driveway between two vehicles, having sustained multiple gunshot wounds to his torso.
Despite the efforts of first responders, he was pronounced dead at the scene, where investigators later recovered 13 shell casings.
The investigation quickly centered on 18-year-old Esteban Roberto Galvez, the ex-boyfriend of Torres-Hernandez's cousin. Witnesses reported seeing Galvez run across the street and shoot Torres-Hernandez until he fell to the ground. According to police, Galvez had also pointed the gun at his ex-girlfriend but did not fire. He allegedly told witnesses that he intended to retrieve more ammunition to kill her as well, but fled when her family members came out of the house. It was later revealed that Galvez had sent threatening messages to his ex-girlfriend in the month leading up to the murder.
In the days following the shooting, law enforcement located and arrested Galvez. He was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail and faced charges of murder, obstruction of justice, aggravated assault, and multiple counts of illegal discharge of a firearm. Another individual, Kimberly Samantha Reyon Munoz, was also arrested and charged with obstruction of justice for allegedly driving Galvez away from the scene after the shooting. Authorities stated that Galvez expressed no remorse, reportedly telling witnesses it 'felt good to kill Brian.'
In June 2025, Esteban Roberto Galvez, then 20, pleaded guilty to murder, felony discharge of a firearm, and aggravated assault as part of a plea agreement. In exchange for his plea, several other charges were dismissed. On August 7, 2025, a judge sentenced Galvez to consecutive prison terms of 15 years to life for the murder and five years to life for the firearm charge. During the sentencing, Torres-Hernandez's cousin described him as being like a brother to her, a kind and generous person who did not deserve to die in such a premeditated and cruel manner. Galvez offered an apology, claiming he was angry and under the influence of drugs at the time of the shooting.
