Grief, prayers — 4 arrests made in slaying of Glendale 7-year-old

On Monday, it was the scene of hugs and prayers as a neighborhood still in shock tried to do what it could to begin healing.

A 7-year-old girl was killed during a drive-by shooting Sunday while she played on the corner in front of her house. Investigators said Sunday they did not believe the girl was an intended target. Monday, however, police said that part was still being investigated.

Maria Del Carmen Menchaca, who went to Riley Elementary School, was shot about 6:30 p.m.

Frank Benavidez, 20, and three 16-year-old juveniles — a male and two females — were arrested for investigation of first-degree felony murder. Benavidez was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail. Gabriel Magallon, Tiona Vigial and Mae Johnson, who just turned 16 Saturday, were booked into juvenile detention.

The shooter, one of the juveniles, was in a black SUV, according to jail records. Benavidez was the driver and owned the vehicle, according to jail documents.

"A juvenile pointed a gun and fire (sic) one round in the direction of another juvenile ... and in doing so this juvenile was shot and later passed away from these injuries," jail documents state.

Two juveniles who were in the car later provided this information to police, according to jail records.

Under Utah law, a 16-year-old charged with first-degree felony homicide can be charged directly as an adult instead of having the case make its way through the juvenile court system. Salt Lake Deputy District Attorney Alicia Cook said Monday that charges would be considered later this week. A decision on whether to directly file on the juveniles had not yet been made.

Benavidez, who is also known as Felipe Alarcon Jimenez, has already been deported once, according to court records. Under his Jimenez name, Benavidez pleaded guilty in 2007 to one count of aggravated assault and discharging a firearm from a vehicle. Two other aggravated assault charges and three other counts of discharging a firearm from a vehicle were dismissed in exchange for his plea.

In May 2007 near 1300 West and 700 South, just a few blocks from this weekend's fatal shooting, Benavidez was arrested for felony fleeing. He later pleaded guilty to that charge. Three counts of retaliation against a witness or victim were dismissed in exchange for the plea.

In 2006, Benavidez was charged with aggravated kidnapping and robbery, but the case was dismissed after the alleged victim in the case disappeared, according to court records.

Salt Lake police say Sunday's shooting was gang-related. They say the four people arrested are all documented gang members. The shooting was the result of an ongoing conflict between rival gang members, said Salt Lake police detective Andy Jackson.

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