EXCLUSIVE: Utah man fears for family’s safety as Tren de Aragua gang members involved in shooting of his nephew released from jail
Utah is one of the many states in which the the Tren de Aragua gang has been active.
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Utah is one of the many states in which the the Tren de Aragua gang has been active.
A Utah father told The Post Millennial that he fears for his family's safety after his nephew was shot during a confrontation with members of the Tren de Aragua gang in Herriman. Some of the gang members charged for involvement with the shooting were released from jail pending trial, and the father says he and his family have been under increasing threat.
Carlos Hernandez, a Venezuelan man who gained asylum in the US in 2023 and lives in Riverton, Utah, told The Post Millennial that Herriman officials have not taken the Tren de Aragua issue seriously. He said that despite his having given evidence to the police, some of the gang members that have threatened his family are still out on the streets though they have been charged. He said his family has been under increasing threat since he also testified against the gang members in court in December.
On September 22, 2024, near the Emerson Apartments in Herriman, Utah, Tren de Aragua gang members were involved in a shooting that resulted in a victim getting shot in the shoulder. TPM can reveal that it was Hernandez’s nephew that got shot at the time.
A review of jail records by TPM reveals that at least two suspects charged for involvement in the shooting were released after the incident, including Henry Camejo, 21, and Franklin Alejandro Valera, 20.
Hernandez told TPM that he was at the Cooperwood Apartments at the time—which are just adjacent to the Emerson apartments—to get food from a local vendor. He said one of his daughters, 15, and her boyfriend, 15, were also there at the time and were confronted by six Tren de Aragua gang members.
Hernandez said that he was on the second floor of the apartments, but was alerted to the situation, and that when he ran down to the street level he saw that one gang member had a knife and another had a gun. They fought them off within a minute or two and Hernandez went to grab a baseball bat, but the gang members had run off by then. Hernandez, as well as his daughter and her boyfriend, suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the fight.
According to Hernandez, his 22-year-old daughter arrived on the scene as well as two of his nephews, aged 23 and 15. At that point, they started making phone calls to identify the suspects. When they started to leave the scene in their vehicles, a car with the gang members inside hit one of their vehicles and shot one of his nephews in the shoulder.
In the chaos, one car crashed into the pool at the Emerson apartments, and police later came to investigate. Hernandez said they then went to his home in Riverton, where he called the police. He said that authorities came to his home and took statements from him and his family. His nephew received treatment for his shoulder.
19-year-old Alejandro Palmar Romero was arrested the day after the event for allegedly shooting Hernandez’s nephew while the others were later taken into custody, but only a few of the gang members remain in jail, according to Hernandez.
One of those arrested in the case was Endry Jose Villalobos Fabelo, 20, who was charged with threat of a dangerous weapon in a fight as well as aggravated assault in the incident, per KSL. He was also charged with possession of marijuana. He does not have citizenship status listed on his jail records, but his social media profile says that he is from Venezuela.
Endry Jose Villalobos Fabelo Salt Lake County Jail record
Facebook profile photo of Endry Jose Villalobos Fabelo
Henry Camejo, 21, was also charged with aggravated assault and was not held on the charge, according to Utah County jail records and posted $5,000 bond. Camejo is from Venezuela.
Utah County Jail record for Henry Camejo
20-year-old Franklin Alejandro Valera was charged with the shooting in the direction of a person as well as shooting in the direction of a vehicle, according to KSL. A Salt Lake County Jail representative and Utah police officer told TPM that this would indicate he has been released. Valera was also charged with four counts of aggravated assault.
Jose Mariano Vitoria Valera, 21, also charged in the case with three counts of aggravated assault as well as threatening or using a weapon in a fight. He is listed as a citizen of Venezuela and appears to have a crown tattoo on his cheek, which is a tattoo associated with the gang.
Jose Mariano Vitoria Valera Facebook photo
Jose Mariano Vitoria Valera Salt Lake County jail record
Others that were accused by Hernandez included alleged gang members Jean Medina, as well as Franco Camacho.
Hernandez told TPM those gang members who have been released from jail have a criminal history and that this has been brought up to the police, but Hernandez said that law enforcement in his area is not doing enough about the situation.
Hernandez told TPM that authorities "were going to relocate me and my family, they were going to change my house because we are victims of attempted homicide here in the United States, they said that they were going to help us."
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View on XHe added, “Until today, not even a patrol at her [extended family's] house or my house and we already testified against the people and said it was Tren de Aragua. We confirmed not by mouth but with information, photos, videos, everything that they received— plus the drugs, weapons, and those who are imprisoned. We are doing the police’s work.” Authorities did not reveal until November that the shooting involved Tren de Aragua, according to KUTV.
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Hernandez added that since he has testified, he and his family have had to borrow different vehicles in order to not be spotted by gang members in the area. Through a translator, Hernandez told TPM that government and other officials have "taken this very lightly,” adding, “They're not seeing the big picture. They are blind about what's happening in Utah.”
Hernandez said he called the Herriman mayor’s office over the phone but was not able to get anywhere with the city official. He added that the Herriman Police have not done enough about the situation.
When TPM reached out to the Herriman police department for comment, a city spokesman said, “Mr. Hernandez has been in contact with the Herriman Police Department. He encouraged witnesses to speak with police regarding the shooting. He has been advised by law enforcement to call 9-1-1 and report any and all reported threats as they are occurring.”
When asked about Hernandez’s contact with the Herriman mayor’s office, the spokesman added, “The Mayor and the City's leadership are not aware of any communication from Mr. Hernandez regarding this incident or any ongoing threats to him or his family.”
“The Police Department is aware of Tren de Aragua's presence in Herriman and neighboring cities throughout the region. We will not provide details about specific strategies and tactics, but there are focused, proactive efforts to address illegal activity in our community,” the city official added.