This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2005, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
DRAPER - An aspiring veterinarian, Lindsey Fawson often lugged home cats and dogs, birds, rabbits and fish - creatures she fancied.
The 22-year-old mother of two was studying for her GED and hoped to land a job as a veterinarian's assistant.
"I've known her since she was 8 years old," said Robert Seneca, Fawson's stepfather. "She was always a good kid."
Fawson's life was cut short Monday when her ex-boyfriend of four months, Juan Carlos Diaz-Arevalo, allegedly shot her once in the head in front of her older sister and 3-year-old son.
Fawson, 22, broke up with Diaz-Arevalo twice, said her mother, Tessie Seneca. The first time he threatened to harm her.
"He wasn't able to let her go," she said. "She was a good, caring, loving person and she didn't deserve this at all - not that anybody deserves this - but she was my little girl. He [Diaz-Arevalo] is an evil creature."
Just 15 hours after the Monday shooting, Diaz-Arevalo was in a police interview room for questioning.
By evening, he was arrested and booked into Salt Lake County jail on suspicion of murder.
Diaz-Arevalo, whom police initially identified as Juan Garcia, was spotted by South Jordan police walking on 1300 West around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, said Draper Sgt. Scott Peck.
Diaz-Arevalo ran from police and hid in the back yard of a home in the 9300 South block of 1300 West, Peck said.
Police from five agencies established a perimeter and closed in on the suspect, sending in a Midvale police dog to confront Diaz-Arevalo. The dog struggled with Diaz-Arevalo, biting him in the arms and prompting him to fire a round from a sawed-off, 18-inch Winchester 1400 shotgun. The dog was not hit by the gunfire.
The shotgun - the same one police believe was used Monday night - was loaded with two rounds, one of which was expended. Police also found an unused round in Diaz-Arevalo's pocket.
The 25-year-old man was arrested and his hands covered in paper bags to preserve any evidence of gunpowder, Draper Sgt. Gerald Allred said. Through chemical analysis, investigators can detect abnormal levels of nitrates on a person's hands, indicating whether the person has recently fired a weapon.
About 7:15 p.m. Monday, Fawson pulled into the driveway of a home in the 12000 South block of 700 West. Her 3-year-old son and older sister were in the car.
Diaz-Arevalo walked up to the blue 1995 Pontiac and confronted Fawson about who owned the car, police said. The altercation escalated when Diaz-Arevalo reached in through the window, and Fawson and her sister tried to push him out.
Fawson opened the door and "mule kicked" Diaz-Arevalo, who then allegedly shot her once in the face, Allred said. No shell casings were recovered from the scene.
Police said Diaz-Arevalo was a known methamphetamine dealer.
Tessie Seneca said her daughter was a former meth user and worked hard to become clean. She volunteered regularly to take drug tests to prove to her family she wasn't using.
Diaz-Arevalo - who has been deported to Mexico at least twice - was wanted for a first-degree felony count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance or counterfeit substance with intent to distribute, and three misdemeanors.
He allegedly admitted to police he intended to sell methamphetamine found in a backpack inside the car police pulled over in February, according to the charges.
In 2001, Diaz-Arevalo pleaded guilty to a third-degree felony count of purchasing, transferring, possessing or using a firearm by a restricted person and other charges.
According to the charges, a stolen rifle was found in the truck Diaz-Arevalo was in at the time he was arrested. He admitted he was not a legal resident and was thus restricted from possessing firearms.
In 2001, he was deported, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The following year, he pleaded guilty to illegally re-entering the country and was sentenced to 10 months in prison. After he served his sentence, he was deported, said Melodie Rydalch, spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Salt Lake City.
Federal prosecutors are considering new federal immigration and firearms charges, and an immigration detainer is in the process of being filed, Rydalch said.
Fawson's sons, ages 3 and 4, are now being cared for by their grandparents in Sandy. An account has been created for the Lindsey Fawson children and those wishing to make a contribution may do so at any Zions First National Bank branch.