In a quiet residential area of Ogden, Utah, the afternoon of May 6, 2016, was shattered by violence that claimed the life of 29-year-old Hispanic male Miguel Angel Rios. At approximately 2:40 p.m., police were dispatched to a home in the 500 block of 31st Street where they discovered Rios suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was rushed to a local hospital in critical condition but ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
Witnesses at the scene reported seeing two individuals fleeing
from the residence shortly after the shots were fired. This information led investigators to a nearby home in the 3000 block of Porter Avenue. The Ogden Metro SWAT team executed a search warrant at this location and took two 18-year-old men, Devin Brock Smith and Jeremy Anthony Moncada, into custody. The investigation that followed revealed a grim story rooted in gang rivalry. Both Smith and Moncada had documented gang histories, and they believed Rios was a member of a rival gang.
According to police, the fatal encounter began with an exchange of words and gang signs between Smith and Rios. Smith later told investigators that Rios had "flexed on him," prompting him to draw a. 22-caliber revolver he had been carrying and shoot Rios multiple times. After the shooting, Smith and Moncada fled to the Porter Avenue residence. There, Smith handed the gun to Moncada, who then hid it in a crawl space. The two also changed their clothes in an attempt to conceal their involvement.
Devin Brock Smith was charged with first-degree felony murder, obstruction of justice, and possession of a firearm by a restricted person. Jeremy Anthony Moncada faced charges of obstruction of justice and possession of a firearm by a restricted person. In March 2018, Smith, then 20, pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison. As part of a plea agreement, other charges against him were dropped. Moncada pleaded guilty to reduced charges and was sentenced to 180 days in jail and probation for his role in the events following the death of Miguel Angel Rios.
