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A mentally ill man who allegedly shot and killed a co-worker four years ago in West Valley City during a dispute over the sale of a vehicle has been civilly committed to the Utah State Hospital.
Victor Herrera Briones, 27, is charged with first-degree felony counts of murder and attempted aggravated murder, and third-degree felony possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person for the April 2006 slaying of 25-year-old Hugo Rosas-Pardo.
Briones has been undergoing mental health evaluations and treatment since December 2006. But 3rd District Judge Deno Himonas last year found that Briones was incompetent to stand trial.
During a Friday hearing, the judge reiterated that there is no "substantial likelihood" of Briones being restored to competency.
But the criminal charges will remain and state hospital officials will report periodically to the court about Briones' mental status. A review hearing is set for July 30.
According to charging documents and police, Briones apparently had sold Rosas-Pardo a pickup truck with a bad engine. When Briones, who worked construction with Rosas-Pardo, bragged at work that he had sold Rosas-Pardo a piece of junk, the two got into a fistfight, and Briones threatened to kill him.
On April 27, 2006, Briones drove to Rosas-Pardo's home, pointed a handgun at him and said, "I told you I would shoot you."
Briones allegedly fired six shots at Rosas-Pardo, hitting him several times. Rosas-Pardo died in the driveway of his home in the 3000 South block of 5990 West.
Briones, who is an alleged undocumented immigrant, also fired one shot at another co-worker who ran.
Briones was arrested the next day by the California Highway Patrol near Barstow. Officers found a 10mm handgun in Briones' truck, which police suspect was used to kill Rosas-Pardo.
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