Teen found dead inside vehicle in West Valley City is identified
Mar 3, 2023, 9:24 AM | Updated: Mar 7, 2023, 7:10 am

A West Valley police car is parked in West Valley City on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020. West Valley City police say three juveniles are in custody following a shooting at Valley Fair Mall on Monday, May 8, 2023. A man, roughly 30 years old, suffered a non-life-threatening injury. (Kristin Murphy/Deseret News)
(Kristin Murphy/Deseret News)
WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah– The West Valley City Police Department is investigating the death of a teenager found with gunshot wounds inside a crashed car overnight. The teen was in the driver’s seat of the car.
The family has identified the victim as 15-year-old Francisco Jesus Cuena.
According to Sgt. Andrew Geyerman with the WVCPD, police responded to a report of shots fired on Caesar Circle, near 3900 South and 1300 West, around 12 a.m. Friday.
“When we arrived, we found a passenger car had crashed into a brick wall,” said Geyerman. “We pulled him out, tried life-saving efforts until fire [department] took over.”
Cuena was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced deceased. Geyerman said it was unclear when the victim was shot.
According to a tweet, police are working to identify potential suspects in this case. Anyone who might have seen or heard something, or who has information about this case, is urged to call WVPD at 801-840-4000.