Three people have been charged with first-degree felony murder in the June 5 shooting death of a man in Kearns.
According to a probable cause statement, a witness told police that he, two men and a woman went to a home at 4819 S. 4720 West intending to rob a man named Julio. The witness said that while one of the men and the woman were inside the house robbing Julio at gunpoint, a second man and John Herman Tonga, 34, entered the room with guns and shots were fired.
Tonga, who was at the home when the three arrived, came out of the house and collapsed in the front yard, where he died. According to charges, a medical examiner found he died of a gunshot wound to his chest, and also suffered two other gunshot wounds.
One of the two men charged in the shooting and robbery was located by police after he was dropped off at the Intermountain Healthcare clinic at 3485 W. 4700 South with gunshot wounds to his hand and thigh. He was transported to Intermountain Medical Center and survived.
The second man was arrested on June 8 while he was walking near 1500 West and 3500 South. The woman was located at a local motel. When police searched her room, they located a pistol and a bag with what police believe was methamphetamine.
The three have each been charged with murder, two counts of felony discharged of a firearm, and two counts of aggravated burglary, all first-degree felonies. The wounded man was also charged with possession or use of a firearm by a restricted person, a second-degree felony.
