Another arrest made in Midvale homicide case

MIDVALE — Another person has been taken into custody in connection with a suspected homicide that took place in Midvale on Sept. 18.

A probable cause statement for the incident says 21-year-old Christiano Antonio Madison was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on Friday, accused of murder and aggravated robbery.

The incident on Sept. 18 began as a dispatch to a traffic accident, but once police arrived to the area of Jackson Street and La Salle Drive, they discovered a person in the car had been shot and died at the scene. That person was identified as 23-year-old Mason Snowball from West Valley City.

Police investigation led to the arrest of a 14-year-old the following day, and Sgt. Aymee Race with the Unified Police Department said in total, three people had been arrested in connection with the shooting.

Police documents said authorities acquired security footage from nearby homes and conducted interviews.

“Investigators learned from the canvas that two suspects were seen walking eastbound on Cornell towards Jackson St., prior to the murder happening,” documents say.

Then, the statement said, a camera captured the same two people fleeing the area. But documents say they may have been more people involved.

“Investigators found several different videos which lead them to a specific house in Midvale. There is video evidence showing four suspects running into this residence immediately after the murder,” the statement said. “Investigators served a warrant on the residence and took several people into custody for interviews.”

At least two of those suspects were said to be juveniles.

After interviewing the suspects, police believed that the suspects intended to rob a man of his marijuana, the statement said.

Investigators also looked at the victim’s Instagram, and learned that one of the juveniles they took into custody had messaged the victim about buying marijuana, according to the statement.

Police said investigators then looked into that juvenile’s Instagram, which led them to Madison.

“In a video found on (the juvenile’s) Instagram, (Madison) is wearing the same clothes and satchel that he is seen wearing on video surveillance on the day of the homicide,” the statement said.

Police also learned through social media that Madison’s mother had been looking for him because he missed a meeting with his probation officer, and that he had left his house with a gun, the statement said.

The statement said Madison and the other suspects were believed to be part of the same gang.