PUBLIC RELATIONS UNIT

February 1, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact Information: PolicePRUnit@slcgov.com

SLCPD Arrest Two Connected to Murder Investigation

SALT LAKE CITY — Today, with the assistance of the Salt Lake City Police Department’s Violent Criminal Apprehension Team (VCAT) and SWAT Team, detectives with the SLCPD’s Homicide Squad arrested two men connected to the fatal shooting of a 35-year-old man.

Oliver Spencer Avila-Jimenez, 23, is charged with Murder and Obstruction of Justice.

Julio Steven Cardona, 30, is charged with Purchasing, Transferring, Possession or Use of a Firearm by a Restricted Person.

Detectives have booked both men into the Salt Lake County Metro Jail.

These two arrests are connected to the shooting that happened on February 1, 2023, at 1665 South Riverside Drive.

During the investigation, detectives reviewed video evidence that showed Cardona handling and carrying a firearm and then handing it to Avila-Jimenez.

Cardona is a restricted person and by law is not allowed to be in possession of a firearm.

Detectives believe Avila-Jimenez got into a fight with Guthrie Serawop and that Avila-Jimenez pulled out a firearm and shot several rounds, with at least one round striking Serawop.

The Salt Lake City Fire Department and Gold Cross Ambulance took Serawop to the hospital where he later died.

Anyone with information on this case should call 801-799-3000 and reference case number 23-22963.

Charges are only allegations, and every arrested person is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The SLCPD Violent Criminal Apprehension Team (VCAT) is a specialty unit within the department responsible for combating violent crime, by identifying and apprehending violent criminals and fugitives.  This unit works under the SLCPD Special Operations Division but also works closely with the Investigations, Patrol and Data and Research divisions to identify and direct targeted enforcement of hot spot areas and areas of rising violent crime.

No further information on this case is being released. Neither the PIO nor the On-Duty Watch Commander are available for interviews.

The Salt Lake City Police Department is not the custodian of record for jail booking photos. Utah Code 17-22-30 mostly prohibits the release of jail booking photos. Generally, a jail booking photo can only be released by the custodian of record after a conviction or when law enforcement determines the person is a fugitive or an imminent threat to a person or public safety. In Salt Lake City, the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office is the custodian of record for jail booking photos.

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