On a summer evening in Taylorsville, Utah, the life of Jawnie Lynn Wey, a 48-year-old Caucasian woman, was tragically cut short. On July 10, 2018, Wey was inside a home at 4929 S. 1950 West when multiple gunshots were fired from a passing vehicle. Witnesses reported hearing between six and nine shots penetrate the residence. At the time of the drive-by shooting, children were playing softball at a park just across the street.
A bullet struck Wey in the head, inflicting a critical injury.
For several days, Wey remained on life support as her family hoped for a miracle. Described by her niece as a single mother of two daughters and the primary caretaker for her own mother, Wey was said to be loved by all who knew her. Despite the efforts of medical staff, Jawnie Lynn Wey succumbed to her injuries and passed away on July 19, 2018. The tragic event left her family and community in mourning for a woman remembered for her kind and loving nature.
The investigation into the senseless act of violence was handled by the Unified Police Department, with assistance from the Metro Gang Unit and the West Jordan Police Department. Their efforts led to a breakthrough later that month. On July 28, 2018, authorities announced the arrests of two individuals in connection with the fatal shooting. Euziel De La Torre, a 20-year-old from the nearby city of West Jordan, was taken into custody. A second suspect, a 16-year-old male whose identity was not publicly released due to his age, was also arrested. Both were arrested for investigation of murder. At the time of their arrest, police indicated that they believed two other individuals were also involved in the shooting and that they were reviewing potential charges against them. The motive for the shooting was not immediately released by investigators.
