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Fifth man faces felony weapon charges in connection to shooting at Peoa party shooting

A fifth man was charged in connection to a May 19 shooting at a large party in Peoa.
Park Record file photo by David Jackson

Update: Summit County prosecutors filed to dismiss the charges against the individual on June 5 because they learned he is a minor. The Park Record does not identify juvenile defendants. The teenager’s name has been removed. He could face charges in juvenile court.

A fifth man is facing felony weapon charges in connection with his alleged involvement in a May 19 shooting at a large party in Peoa that left two people injured.

The Summit County Attorney’s Office on Thursday charged the man, of Lehi, with two counts of discharging a firearm and causing an injury, a second-degree felony, and three counts of firing a gun unlawfully, a third-degree felony. The charges did not have gang enhancements like some of the other men, making his potential penalty less severe. Prosecutors filed to dismiss the charges several days later when they discovered the suspect is actually a juvenile. His birthdate was not listed in court documents.



Charging documents identified the man as one of the people shooting into a crowd after a dispute broke out at a “pay-to-play” party at a short-term rental in eastern Summit County. The argument was between the organizers and a group of friends who were kicked out.

Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to Peoa around 3 a.m. after gunshots had been fired. Law enforcement witnessed at least 300 people on the property, most of whom were attempting to flee.



Prosecutors alleged he was part of the friends’ group. Witnesses identified him as one of the people shooting from behind a car after gunfire started between the two groups.

Manuel A. Pimentel-Gonzalez and Francisco Enrique Romero-Fuenmayor, both 23, have been characterized as the party organizers by prosecutors. They allegedly helped rent out the 9,000-square-foot, eight-bedroom, seven-bathroom Browns Canyon Lodge.

The VRBO listing for the property states events with a maximum attendance of 99 are allowed on the 44-acre site as long as it isn’t a wild party. The lodge is described as the “destination for all your adventures” and boasts several amenities such as an outdoor fire pit, tranquil garden, solarium, 10-person hot tub, indoor pirate ship playground, indoor half basketball court, game room and more.

Prosecutors said tensions increased between the organizers and the group of friends. One man reportedly shoved another, who then ran towards a car near the party entrance and pulled a gun out of the waistband of his pants. Court documents state he joined the man who was shoved and also took out a handgun. Together, they pointed “their guns at members of the organizers’ group.”

Pimentel-Gonzalez is accused of then going to the car and retrieving what appeared to be a “submachine gun.” He allegedly pointed it at the group of friends while screaming threats, joined by Romero.

The pair then approached the friends group and discharged several rounds above them, prosecutors said. Gunfire was exchanged by several people from both groups, including Pimentel-Gonzalez, Romero and the fifth man.

Detectives later searched the man’s apartment and found packaging for a 9mm handgun magazine and an empty box of 9mm ammunition in the bedroom trash can, according to charging documents.

Jose Enrique Suniga-Diaz, 18, was also identified as one of the shooters from the group of friends. He was reportedly seen standing behind one of the cars, shooting toward the party organizers. Deputies corroborated the story based on a description of a suspect with a distinctive hairstyle, which matched Diaz. 

Alejandro “Tuqi” Carreno-Romero, 22, allegedly shot a .45 caliber handgun at the friends group. He was associated with the party’s organizers.

All five men face the same five charges, though only some face special considerations because they acted together as a group with more than three people, classifying it as gang-related violence. 

Pimentel-Gonzalez also faces two additional charges of possessing a dangerous weapon illegally, a second-degree felony; and aggravated assault, a third-degree felony. He was struck by a bullet in the back during the exchange. It exited through his arm.

Around 40 shell casings, four firearms, 11 cell phones, multiple cartridges and security footage were collected as evidence. Deputies later found four vehicles with bullet holes, 17 shell casings at the bottom of the hill where the friends group was, and 22 shell casings at the top of the hill from organizers.

A second-degree felony carries a sentence of between one and 15 years in prison.


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