On the night of November 6, 2021, a wedding celebration in Midvale, Utah, turned into a scene of tragedy, ending in the death of 28-year-old Hispanic male, Oscar Avila. The event, held at 145 E. Fort Union Blvd., was in honor of Avila's parents. The joyous occasion took a dark turn when several uninvited men arrived and began causing trouble.
As family and friends attempted to escort the disruptive individuals out of the venue, a physical altercation erupted.
The confrontation spilled outside, where the situation escalated dramatically. One of the uninvited guests, later identified as 19-year-old Guillermo Herrera, produced a handgun. As Avila rushed towards him, Herrera was seen on video pistol-whipping him before he fell to the ground. Herrera then fired a single shot, striking Avila in the chest. Despite attempts to render aid by wedding guests and responding officers, Oscar Avila was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy later confirmed he died from the gunshot wound.
The investigation that followed led to the arrest of four suspects believed to be associated with the Dogtown gang. Guillermo William Herrera, then 19, was charged with murder, riot, obstruction of justice, and multiple counts of aggravated assault. Also arrested were Daniel Brando Garcia, 22, and Marqus Paul James, 22, on charges including obstruction of justice. A fourth suspect, 19-year-old Troy Latorio Kajiyama, was later taken into custody and charged with possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person and obstruction of justice.
In August 2025, a jury found Guillermo William Herrera guilty of first-degree felony murder for the death of Oscar Avila Jr. He was also convicted on charges of possession of a firearm by a restricted person, obstructing justice, and aggravated assault. The cases against the other co-defendants, Daniel Brando Garcia and Troy Latorio Kajiyama, are still proceeding through the criminal justice system.
