Police arrest 3 in Kearns homicide investigation

Jun 8, 2019, 4:38 PM | Updated: 4:55 pm

Police line strung up around 4800 South 4720 West in Kearns, Utah. 6/5/19 PHOTO: John Perry

Former Digital Content Producer

KEARNS — Unified police say its officers have arrested three in connection with a shooting in Kearns that left one man dead and another man injured.

In a statement made on Saturday, Unified Police Sgt. Melody Gray said “after tireless hours” of investigation, the police acquired and developed information that led to the arrests of three people.

Sgt. Gray says police have arrested Lewellyn Auvaa, 38, of Kearns, Lafeta Piuila, 45, of Salt Lake City, and Joleen Warner, 29, also of Salt Lake City.

Midvale resident John Herman Tonga, 34, was killed in the shooting on Wednesday. Police say his body was found in the front yard of a home at 4805 S. 4720 West.

Police say another man received a gunshot wound. He went to the St. Mark’s Taylorsville Emergency Center. The man, who remains unidentified, was then taken to the Intermountain Medical Center in serious condition

At the home where the body was found, police say there were six other people were inside the home at the time of the shooting, about 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday.

This story will be updated.

Lafeta Piuila (Photo: Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office)

Lewellyn Auvaa (Photo: Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office)

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