One of three men charged in May shooting death of a Holladay man during a gang-related burglary made an initial appearance in court on Monday.
Kieson Kuyendall, 18, appeared via video feed from the Salt Lake County jail before 3rd District Judge Heather Brereton.
Kuyendall is charged with one count of murder and one count of aggravated burglary. Both are first-degree felonies punishable by life in prison.
Kuyendall waived a formal reading of the charges on Monday and was set for another hearing in his case on June 20.
He has not yet entered a plea.
Kuyendall and two others — Damian Antonio Garcia and Joshua Nguyen — are accused in the May 21 death of Darrin Jackson, 46, during a fight between rival gang members after a break-in at Jackson's apartment near 1800 E. 4900 South.
Jackson's son was shot during the hand during the break-in.
Witnesses inside the apartment, through personal recognition and photo line-ups, identified Garcia and Nguyen as two of the intruders, charges state.
Garcia later told police he came to the apartment with Nguyen and Kuykendall and that he fired two shots at one person, charges state.
Garcia, 19, is charged with first-degree felony counts of murder and aggravated burglary.
Nguyen, 21, is facing counts of murder, aggravated burglary and obstructing justice.
Both men made initial court appearances on June 7 and are scheduled for another hearing on June 20.
jdobner@sltrib.com
Courtesy | Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office Keison Kuykendall
Courtesy | Salt Lake County Damian A Garcia.
