A Salt Lake City man has been sentenced to 15 years to life in prison for killing the son of a newly married couple during a 2021 wedding celebration in Midvale.
According to court records, Guillermo William Herrera, 23, was convicted in August on multiple charges, including murder, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm as a restricted person, and obstructing justice. The sentencing was handed down this week.
What happened at the wedding?
The shooting occurred on Nov. 6, 2021, at the Ganesh Center on Fort Union Boulevard. Prosecutors say Herrera and two others with ties to the Dogtown gang showed up uninvited. When they were confronted and told to leave, the situation escalated outside the venue.
As the group moved outdoors, two of the men pulled out guns. The victim, Oscar Avila Jr., 28, ran toward Herrera. Investigators say Herrera struck Avila with a gun, knocking him to the ground, then shot him while he was down. Avila died at the scene.
Jurors heard three days of testimony before finding Herrera guilty.
A long list of prison terms — and more time ahead
For the murder conviction alone, Herrera received a sentence of 15 years to life. He also received additional sentences for obstruction of justice, aggravated assault, and firearm possession — several of which will run consecutively, adding to his total prison time. All of these sentences will be served after he finishes the time he is already serving for a separate shooting.
Herrera was previously convicted in a 2020 Magna case where a victim was left paralyzed. He has also faced additional charges while incarcerated, including drug possession and assault by a prisoner.
Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill, whose office prosecuted the case, said the sentence reflects the seriousness of the crime and its impact on the victim’s family. Gill noted that weddings should be moments of joy, not violence, and reaffirmed the office’s commitment to addressing gun crime.
For more information on Utah’s court system and public records, visit the Utah Courts website.
Co-defendants also facing charges
Three others were charged in connection with the 2021 incident:
- Daniel Brando Garcia, 26, pleaded not guilty to weapons and obstruction charges and is scheduled for his next court hearing on Nov. 17.
- Troy Latorio Kajiyama, 23, pleaded guilty to possession of a dangerous weapon. An obstruction charge against him was dismissed; sentencing is set for Dec. 1.
- Charges against a fourth individual, Marqus Paul James, were dismissed.
For accurate updates on criminal cases and official statements, readers can refer to the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office.
