Shooting victims' kin carry protest signs

Protesters gathered briefly outside the Matheson Courthouse in Salt Lake City Monday to urge the court system to move quickly on the assorted charges lodged against Samuel Paul Krokaugger, 18, who is charged with killing two young men this summer as well as taking part in a drive-by shooting in which the victim was injured, but lived.

Krokaugger is charged with fatally shooting Luis A. Trujillo, 17, on June 24 while driving on I-15 near 2100 South. Krokaugger also is charged with the June 29 shooting death of Aaron Wheelwright, 20, near the Mountain Meadows apartment complex near 3800 South and 700 West.

Family members of the two dead young men carried signs outside the courthouse calling for justice and a speedy resolution to these cases. The sooner Krokaugger is in prison, the better, according to Angela Brainich, the mother of Aaron Wheelwright.

Krokaugger faces two counts of first-degree felony murder. Among the various cases involving him in 3rd District Court, he also is looking at other charges: first-degree felony aggravated robbery, three counts of possessing a dangerous weapon, all second-degree felonies; and three counts of discharging a firearm from a vehicle, all third-degree felonies.

He appeared in court Monday for a scheduling conference before 3rd District Judge Paul Maughan, but his lawyer asked for a continuance. His next court appearance is Aug. 27.

He is being held in the Salt Lake County Jail on $1 million bail.