In the early morning hours of September 3, 2023, the life of 25-year-old Hispanic male Vicente Peralta Figueroa was tragically cut short in a detached garage in Kearns, Utah. Initially, police were called to the residence at 4057 W. 4990 South just before 8 a.m. on a report of an unconscious man, possibly from a heart attack. However, upon arrival, first responders discovered that Peralta Figueroa had been shot at least once.
A single 9mm casing was found near his body, but the weapon was nowhere in sight.
The investigation into the death of Peralta Figueroa, who had been living in the garage for about a month, quickly turned into a homicide case. Detectives began questioning those connected to the property, including 30-year-old Elmer Areiga Hernandez, who also resided at the home. Hernandez's account of the events changed multiple times, and he initially denied knowing what had happened. His inconsistent statements and attempts to mislead investigators led to his arrest for obstruction of justice. Police later learned that Hernandez had sought help from a co-owner of the property on the morning of the incident for an injured person in his car, who he claimed had been in a fight with Peralta Figueroa.
Further investigation and witness statements pointed to 18-year-old Daniel Lopez-Santiago as the primary suspect. It was revealed that on the night of the shooting, Lopez-Santiago and Peralta Figueroa had been arguing, reportedly over money. The argument escalated in the detached garage, where Hernandez witnessed Lopez-Santiago shoot Peralta Figueroa with a handgun. Following the shooting, Lopez-Santiago allegedly threatened Hernandez, demanding to be taken home. It is also believed that Lopez-Santiago sold the gun to a neighbor after the incident. Subsequently, Daniel Lopez-Santiago was charged with murder, obstruction of justice, and possession of a gun by a restricted person. Prosecutors noted that Lopez-Santiago is originally from Oaxaca, Mexico, and is in the United States illegally.
