Teen charged with murder of Vernal man

Murder charges have been filed against a Sandy teenager accused of gunning down a Vernal man late last month.

Joshua Buie, 17, was charged with murder, a first-degree felony, and could face a sentence of 15 years to life in prison.

According to the charges, Buie and Stephen Lasiloo, 21, were both at a gathering at a home near 11300 South and 450 West on July 25. At some point that night, there was an argument involving multiple people, including Buie and Lasiloo, about a stolen iPod. After the argument, Lasiloo left on foot with his sister and cousin, the charges state.

Shortly after Lasiloo left the party, a witness told police that Buie left in a car with two other people. The two people in the car told police that as they approached Lasiloo and his group, Buie asked the driver to stop the car, the charges state.

Witnesses said "Buie got out of the car and confronted Stephen Lasiloo; (Buie) pointed a revolver at (Lasiloo) and shot the gun three or four times," the charges state.

Two of the shots hit Lasiloo, who fell down with a gunshot wound to the chest.

A witness said that Buie got back into the car and said, "I did it. I popped that fool," according to the charges.

Although Buie is only 17, according to a statute, if murder charges are filed against a 16- or 17-year-old, "their jurisdiction lies exclusively with adult court," said Alicia Cook, a spokeswoman for the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office.

— Ethan Thomas