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Show D4 The Salt Lake Tribune UTAH Friday, July 25, 1997 4WV. CityMen to Stand Trial for Murder Parents Offer $1,000 Reward Police Charge ther for a ride home, apparently because Miranda was treating her badly. Victim Was Shot Dead in Ambush He drove to his sister's home and called 911 When Gutierrez and the three Najera brothers arrived, they argued with Roberto Heurta, possibly mistaking him for the abusive boyfriend. Heurta was punched byGilbert Najera PHEN HUNT AKE TRIBUNE Four WestValleyCity men who allegedly waited in a carport to kill a man in August 1996 have been ordered to stand trial for murder and aggravatedassault Prosecutors allege the four men armed themselves and ambushed Roberto Heurta, 38, who died in the street as his brother, Jorge Heurta,28,fled in a car. It is unknownwhofired the fatal bullets. Gilbert Gregory Najera, 42, Lupe Amadore Najera 38, Steven Emilio Najera, 43, and Johnny Augusti Gutierrez, 44 were charged with the homicide. Theyare to be arraigned Monday before 3rd District Judge Tyrone Medley During a preliminary hearing, defense attorneys alluded to a previous altercation over a wom- an. Theyclaimed shots werefired by both sides the night of Aug. 5, 1996, and said it could be a case of self-defense or defense of habita- tion. Prosecutor Barbara Byrne countered that Heurta was struck in the back and buttocks. The victim’s brother testified that events began at a drinking party attended by the Heurtas and Gutierrez’s daughter, and the daughter's boyfriend, Beto Mir- anda. The daughter called her fa- About an hourlater, the Heurtas and Miranda showedupat Gutierrez’s home, 1825 W. 3300 South. The victim's brothertesti- fied they went there “to make peace. Mybrother only wanted to apologize.” But defense attorney James Bradshawinsists one of the Heurtas lifted his coat to show a gun as Police found a couch. Gilbert Najera claimed be was in the bathroom .380-caliber handgun under a refrigerator in the back yard and six spent .380 shells in the carport. A .380 slug was later found lodged in thevictim’s wrist. the basement when he saw people running across the street. Lupe Najera told police he was in the back yard beer when he Mae what he thought was a drive-by shooting. And Steven Najera said he beard two a threat. The Heurtas took Miranda home, then drove back by shots about five minutes after ar- the Gutierrez house at about 11 But neighbor Troy Dukesaid he p.m saw a heavy-set Latino male hunched down in the carport with a gun in his hand, and heard someoneyell: “They are coming back.” Another neighborsaid he heardatleast eight shots. Tiving at the Gutierrez home. Also found in the home were a -22-ealiber revolver, a .22 rifle and a 410 shotgun. A .357-caliber handgun wrapped in plastic was discovered in a child’s bedroom. No gunshot residue was found on the victim’s hands, indicating he did not fire a weapon that night. Gilbert Najera, however, tested positive for gun residue. For Information on Son’s Killer THE ASSOCIATED PRESS The parents of a teen-ager fa- tally shot at a Salt Lake City gas station in May have scraped together $1,000 as a reward for in- formation leading to the arrest of thekiller. Nick Seals, 16, died shortly after the 1 a.m. May 17 shooting. Police have madenoarrests. The boy’s mother, Wendy MacDonald, hopes the reward — raised with matching contributions from the Salt Lake City police homicide unit — will generate a break in theinvestigation. “We're hoping it will,” MacDonald said. ‘‘Nothing will ever Neighbors testified the four men were readyand waiting. They had apparently moved cars to form a barricade and were leaning over them with weapons. Jorge Heurta said his brother nother Smith’s Exclusive “‘crib for life’’ $2.99 $2.99 $2.99 $2.99 $1.99 $2.25 $2.25 $1.75 $1.90 $1.75 $1.75 $2.25 $ .99 $ .99 $ .99 $ .99 $ .99 $ .99 pickuptruck pulled up. Somebodyinsidethe truck said something, and as the youths left the parkinglotin their car, some- one in the truck fired several shots, hitting Seals. The boy died ata local hospital. Thevehicle witnesses described to police the night of the shooting is a late 1980s red, extended-cab pickup fruck with a loud muffler. A lifetime of grilling enjoyment! 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