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SALT LAKE CITY — Two men arrested in Wyoming in connection with the fatal shooting of a 17-year-old boy in a West Valley park were formally charged on Thursday.
But neither was charged with murder.
The Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office determined the shooting was actually a case of self-defense as the victim tried to rob the men at gunpoint.
But the two arrested men still face a long list of charges.
Saivontre Isiah Jordan Spillers, 25, of West Valley City, was charged in 3rd District Court with three counts of possession of a weapon by a restricted person, and theft by receiving stolen property, second-degree felonies; as well as obstructing justice, discharge of a firearm, and drug possession with intent to distribute, all third-degree felonies.
Adrian Kordell Emanuel McCleary, 22, of Taylorsville, was charged with three counts of possession of a weapon by a restricted person and theft, both second-degree felonies; along with obstructing justice and drug possession with intent to distribute, both third-degree felonies.
On June 28, Edwin B. Reyes, 17, was shot multiple times and killed at Peachwood Park, 3525 W. 3965 South. The two men were arrested a couple of days later at the Flying J in Evanston, Wyoming.
Charging documents reveal that McCleary’s girlfriend was also shot in the incident and was dropped off at the front doors of an emergency room before the vehicle, matching descriptions of a car at the scene of the shooting, drove off.
When McCleary and Spillers were arrested, authorities found “12 individually wrapped Xanax bars packaged for distribution and a partially empty bottle of promethazine hydrochloride along with three pistols” in their car, the charges state.
Detectives learned that McCleary and his girlfriend had arranged to meet Reyes to sell him “lean,” charging documents state. Lean is described in court documents as “a concoction of codeine ... and soft drink.” The two were allegedly going to sell promethazine hydrochloride — which is used to treat allergies and motion sickness — to Reyes as “lean,” the charges state.
Spillers drove McCleary to the park where they were met by another vehicle, the charges state.
At the park, Reyes asked some questions about the lean, and then went to the other car where he spoke to the occupants, according to charging documents.
“McCleary stated that it appeared that a disagreement took place between (Reyes) and the occupants of the car. McCleary observed (Reyes) pull a handgun out of his waistband, fire it in the air and then pointed it at him and (his girlfriend) demanding the lean,” the charges state.
Reyes began shooting at McCleary, who pushed his girlfriend into their car, grabbed his own gun and returned fire, according to the charges.
The girlfriend told police that as Reyes approached them he fired two shots in the air and told the couple he was robbing them, the charges state.
“He heard (the girlfriend) start screaming that she had been shot. McCleary stated that (Reyes) was lying on the sidewalk and his gun was next to him,” the charges state.
Spillers got out of the car and also fired several rounds at the other vehicle as it drove away, according to the charges.
McCleary grabbed Reyes’ gun, threw it in his car, and drove off.
Although neither was charged with murder, prosecutors noted in charging documents that both have violent criminal histories.
On June 1, Spillers was charged in 3rd District Court with two counts of possession of a firearm by a restricted person, and drug possession with intent to distribute, both third-degree felonies. In that case, during a traffic stop, police found Spillers in possession of two guns, “53 individually wrapped DAB containers, 52 individually wrapped THC edibles” and more than $3,000 cash, according to charging documents. A $50,000 warrant had been issued for Spillers at the time of the shooting for the June case.
In April, Spillers was charged with assault and domestic violence in the presence of a child.
In November, he was convicted of being a restricted person in possession of a firearm and assaulting a police officer. In that case, Spillers attempted to purchase a gun from a pawn shop, but had multiple felony warrants out for his arrest and police were called, according to charging documents. When officers arrived he got into a fight with them, causing minor injuries to one officer, the charges state. He is scheduled to be sentenced in that case on July 31.
In December, Spillers was convicted of aggravated assault in a domestic violence-related incident, court records state. He was scheduled to also be sentenced in that case on July 31.
In 2017, McCleary was charged in connection with another shooting that involved more than two dozen rounds being fired, injuring another person. Prosecutors noted in charging documents that McCleary “was graciously given the opportunity at probation” in that case.
Prosecutors have requested both men be held on $100,000 cash bail.
