Details unfold in golf course death

Before he was shot and killed at a West Valley City golf course Thursday night, 18-year-old Jojo Brandstatt was tricked, beaten, kidnapped and robbed, and his friend was forced to rob three 7-Eleven stores, according to police documents released Saturday.

Three adults and one juvenile kidnapped Gregory Brown on Thursday, according to probable-cause statements. The four assailants took drugs and cash from Brown, then forced him to rob the convenience stores, according to police.

Brown was also forced to arrange a meeting with Brandstatt, who was allegedly beaten, robbed and kidnapped before being taken to the ninth hole of the Westridge Golf Course, 5055 S. Westridge Blvd. (5950 West). There, Brandstatt was shot and killed, his body left in the cold, according to the documents.

By Friday evening, police found the escaped Brown and pieced together a connection between the robberies and the slaying. Brown led police to the ninth hole and the body of his friend.

All the people involved, including the victim, are believed to have gang ties, according to West Valley Police Lt. Bill Merritt. No other information about the motive of the crimes has been released.

"It's stupid and it's sad, that's what it is," Merritt said.

West Valley City police also found the likely murder weapon Friday using a warrant, according to the probable-cause documents.

All four of the alleged perpetrators were arrested Friday night. Charges of aggravated homicide, aggravated kidnapping and aggravated robbery are being screened, officers said.

Arrested were Jeremiah H. Williamson, 28, Spencer Isaiah Cater, 18, and Shardise O. Malaga, 19. The fourth person arrested was a 14-year-old whose name has not been released.

Police say Williamson shot Brandstatt multiple times while his accomplices watched.

None of those arrested have had previous run-ins with West Valley police, Merritt said. A preliminary search of the Utah Courts database also showed a lack of serious criminal history among the suspects.

The first of three robberies happened about 10 p.m. at the 7-Eleven near 6200 South and 4000 West. A man with a ski mask robbed the clerk at gunpoint, police said.

The second was an attempted robbery about 30 minutes later at the 7-Eleven near 3000 West and 3500 South. When the man with a ski mask demanded money from the clerk at gunpoint, the clerk became flustered and didn't give the man money, police said. That made the would-be robber flustered, and he left empty-handed.

The third robbery was several minutes later at a 7-Eleven near 2300 South and Redwood Road. Again, a man wearing a ski mask robbed a clerk at gunpoint. This time, the man also took several swings at the clerk, possibly hitting the clerk once, police said. The injuries were minor, and the clerk did not need medical attention.

Contributing: Pat Reavy

E-MAIL: rpalmer@desnews.com