A West Valley man who prosecutors say was playing with the hammer on his gun when it went off, striking and killing a man, now faces criminal charges, according to a report from KSL.
On Friday, Michael Manuel Melara was charged with manslaughter, a second-degree felony, along with two third-degree felonies: possession of a firearm by a restricted person and obstructing justice
The KSL report states that on May 26, West Valley police were called to the Granger Medical Clinic on a report of a vehicle in the parking lot with its lights on and the back passenger door open. In the back seat, Juan Jose Zamora Guerrero, 27, was found dead from a gunshot wound.
Although the car was found early on the morning of May 26, video surveillance showed it had been dropped off the night before. The police identified a 15-year-old boy from the surveillance and were able to question him, which led to the identification and arrest of Melara.
Prosecutors have requested that Melara be held in jail without bail.