2 held in slaying at taco stand

The primary suspects wanted in a Sunday shooting at a busy downtown Salt Lake taco stand that left a teenager dead and one man critically injured have been arrested, a spokesman for the Salt Lake City Police Department said Saturday.

Luis Salazar Mendoza, 23, and a 17-year-old believed to be an accomplice were taken into custody without incident at about 2 a.m. Saturday, police said.

The two were located Friday at a motel after police got a tip that a sedan fitting the vehicle description given by witnesses at the shooting was parked outside a Woods Cross motel, police said.

The woman who police say owns the car, Michelle Ramirez, 22, was arrested Tuesday and has been charged with obstruction of justice. According to a Salt Lake County Jail report, Ramirez said she loaned the 1991 four-door Chrysler New Yorker car to friends but refused to say why and would not give their names to police.

The report alleges that Ramirez made multiple incorrect and contradicting statements, including giving police the wrong date of birth.

Detailed descriptions of the car by eyewitnesses at the shooting were the key factor leading to the arrests, according to police. Investigators were tipped to the car's location by an informant who noticed a white Chrysler that fit the witnesses' description, including plastic taped over the window of the passenger side front door, parked outside the motel.

Police said the shooting began after a man got out of a white sedan parked near the taco stand located on the Sears department store parking lot. Witnesses told police the gunman approached the three people standing in line at the taco stand and opened fire.

Diego Mendoza, 16, was struck in the head and died instantly. His funeral was Friday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Salt Lake City.

Eder Oronoa, 23, who was struck four times in the chest, is recovering and was listed in fair condition Saturday night.

The third person in line at the stand, Diego Mendoza's brother, Joel Mendoza, 17, escaped unharmed by running into the department store for cover, according to police.

Authorities, who made the arrests less than 24 hours after warrants were issued, said Saturday a motive for the incident and whether the suspects and victims were acquainted remains under investigation.

Luis Salazar Mendoza was being held at the Salt Lake County Jail on $2 million bail. He was arrested on charges of criminal homicide, aggravated murder, two counts of attempted criminal homicide/aggravated murder and three counts of discharge of a firearm from a vehicle.

Police did not release booking information on the 17-year-old suspect. The warrant includes charges of criminal homicide and discharge of a firearm from a vehicle.

Law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation were the Salt Lake City Gang Unit, the Metro Gang Unit, Salt Lake homicide detectives and the FBI.