In the early hours of April 3, 2022, a party at an Airbnb rental home in Draper, Utah, was winding down. Among the attendees was 21-year-old Jonathan July Fuentes. Just after 1 a.m., as guests were leaving, a dispute erupted in the street outside the house. The argument began over an uninvited guest throwing glass bottles into the street. This seemingly minor conflict quickly and tragically escalated.
During the altercation, one of the uninvited guests pulled out a handgun and fired
multiple shots. Witnesses reported hearing at least 10 shots fired. In the chaos, two men were struck by the gunfire. Austin Terry Powell, 27, was believed to be the intended target and died at the scene. Jonathan July Fuentes was also hit and was rushed to a local hospital in critical condition. Sadly, he succumbed to his injuries and passed away, just one day after his 21st birthday.
The shooter fled the scene, initially attempting to carjack a vehicle before leaving in another car. Draper Police began an intensive investigation, initially searching for a Hispanic man with distinctive facial tattoos. Within days, their investigation led them to two suspects. On April 7, 2022, police arrested 18-year-old Ashtyn Ortega and another male who was 17 at the time of the shooting. Both were taken into custody for their alleged involvement in the deaths of Fuentes and Powell.
Subsequent legal proceedings revealed more details about the night of the shooting. Daniel Martinez, the teenager who was 17 at the time of the incident, was identified as the shooter and was ultimately convicted of two counts of aggravated murder. He was sentenced to 50 years to life in prison. Ashtyn Ortega, who provided the gun to Martinez, was sentenced to one to 15 years in prison for manslaughter. Jonathan, who was described as a loving and caring young man with big dreams of becoming a lawyer, left behind a young son.
