SALT LAKE CITY — A West Valley City man has been formally charged with murder in connection with the death of a construction worker in West Valley City.
Jesus Adolfo Valdez Jr., 30, is also charged with three felony counts of discharging a firearm with serious bodily injury and one felony count of use/possession of a firearm by a restricted person.
Valdez is accused of killing Melbin Martinez on May 28.
According to police, Martinez had been performing construction at a home near 2900 S 3050 W, next door to the home where Valdez lived with his father.
West Valley City Police said Martinez had worked on the home before and "and is reported to have developed a negative relationship with some neighbors due to noise."
Police also told FOX 13 that Valdez is reported to have been disturbed by the construction noise.
According to a probable cause statement, a woman and her nephews returned to the home where Martinez was working and found him lying on the ground next to the garage. The woman sent her nephews inside to call 9-1-1 and began chest compressions on Martinez, the statement said.
Emergency crews also attempted to resuscitate Martinez, but were unsuccessful. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Multiple witnesses told police they saw Valdez drive away from the scene on a motorcycle. Police obtained a warrant for Valdez's phone location data and apprehended him at a Salt Lake City home the following day.
