In the early morning hours of March 18, 2015, David Marsh, a 62-year-old White male, was working his shift at the Lee Mart Gas and Grocery in Murray, Utah, a job he had held for over two decades. Shortly after 5:30 a.m., two masked men entered the convenience store, located near 5900 S. 700 West, and confronted Marsh, the lone employee. The assailants, brandishing a weapon, demanded money from the cash register. The entire incident was captured on the store's surveillance camera. As the two robbers fled the scene, one of them turned and fired at Marsh. A short time later, two customers entered the store to find Marsh wounded and called for help. He was transported to a local hospital in critical condition. After several days in intensive care, David Marsh succumbed to his injuries.
The investigation into the death of the beloved clerk, known for his kindness to customers, led Murray police to identify three suspects. The getaway driver was identified as 20-year-old Martin Castillo. The two individuals who entered the store were 20-year-old Alexis Alan Garcia and 23-year-old Juan Andres Zalazar. Authorities determined that as the pair were leaving the store, Marsh threw the empty cash register tray at them, at which point Zalazar turned and shot him.
In the months that followed, all three men were brought to justice. Martin Castillo pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery in a deal that saw the murder charge against him dropped in exchange for his testimony against the other two. Juan Andres Zalazar, the shooter, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and aggravated robbery. Alexis Alan Garcia, the other man who entered the store, was also set to stand trial. The community mourned the loss of Marsh, holding a vigil and setting up a fund to help with his funeral and medical expenses.
