Two men have been charged in the stabbing death of a 16-year-old Salt Lake boy who, according to court documents, came to the defense of two girls.
Enrique Deloza and Nicolas Espana, both 28, face charges of murder, obstructing justice and possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person.
(Photo courtesy Salt Lake County Jail) Enrique Deloza
According to the charging documents, 16-year-old Marcelino Johnson, a 15-year-old boy and two 13-year-old girls were walking near 1300 S. State St. shortly after midnight on Aug. 27 when Deloza and Espana passed them. The girls ran up to the boys and said the two men “had attempted to persuade the girls to go with them.”
Shortly thereafter, a fight broke out. The two groups separated, and as Marcelino and his friends approached an alley near 75 E. Kensington Ave., Espana threw a rock at the 16-year-old and a second fight ensued.
According to the witnesses, Deloza joined the fight when Johnson “had the upper hand” against Espana. The other three teenagers said they heard Marcelino scream after Deloza joined the fight.
The men fled, and the witnesses discovered Marcelino had been stabbed.
According to the charging documents, the teenager was stabbed at least three times, including one wound to his face that fractured his jawbone and severed a major artery.
With the help of surveillance video, detectives tracked the men to a hotel and arrested them.
Espana and Deloza are each being held in the Salt Lake County Jail on $1 million bail.
