Boy, 14, called mastermind, triggerman

Prosecutors say a 14-year-old boy was the mastermind and triggerman behind a homicide at a West Valley golf course and a series of related aggravated robberies last week.

That slaying was committed, according to prosecutors, because the victim wore the wrong color shirt.

Salt Lake County District Attorney Lohra Miller Tuesday called the violence related to this incident "shocking to the conscience of our community."

"(This is) another senseless death in Salt Lake County due to gang violence," she said. "We cannot tolerate this type of culture of violence,"

Three adults, Jeremiah H. Williamson, 28, Spencer Isaiah Cater, 18, and Shardise O. Malaga, 19, were each charged Tuesday with murder, two counts of aggravated kidnapping and five counts of aggravated robbery in connection with the shooting death of JoJo Brandstatt, 18. All are first-degree felonies.

The 14-year-old, identified only as A.F. in court documents, had his first hearing Tuesday in juvenile court. Miller said her office would try to have him certified as an adult to stand trial. Because of the seriousness of his alleged activities, Miller said if he receives adult certification he will be charged with aggravated murder. He would not be eligible for the death penalty if convicted, however, because of his age.

Under the direction of the young teen, on Feb. 5 Williamson, Cater and Malaga met with Gregory Brown to commit robberies, according to court documents. How Brown exactly came to be with the others was not released Tuesday.

Brown, 19, soon found himself being duct-taped by his wrists with the others threatening to kill him if he did not commit robberies for them, court documents state.

When the initial robberies did not work, Brown contacted Brandstatt. Both Brown and Brandstatt were members of the same gang, Miller said. The others were members of a rival gang.

When Brandstatt arrived he was wearing a red shirt — the rival gang color of the others. This made A.F. very angry, Miller said.

Brandstatt then took the group to rob the house of an alleged drug dealer, according to court documents. But after driving by the house twice, the others in the group didn't feel comfortable about what was going on.

"A.F. became upset, stating that he was going to kill Mr. Brandstatt for setting them up and for wearing red," according to court documents.