On Sunday morning, July 25, a man was brought to the emergency room of Mesa View Regional Hospital with shotgun wounds to his arm and legs.
According to police, the victim and the two men who drove him to the hospital around 2 a.m. claimed that the shooting had taken place on Old Mill Road in Mesquite.
However, when police investigated, they could find no evidence of a shooting in the area claimed by the three men.
Further investigation determined that, just an hour before Leon Constantino appeared at the hospital with his wounds, police in St. George were investigating a gang-related shooting in Southern Utah. banner
After being treated at the hospital, Mesquite police interrogated the victim and the two men with him, Cristian Aquirre and Daniel Cambron.
Police officers from St. George joined in questioning the men.
It turns out that, according to Mesquite police lieutenant Troy Tanner, the man was shot in St. George and brought to Mesa View in hopes of avoiding a connection to the gangs.
"The shooting took place near Pine View High School, about three blocks away," Tanner said, referring to the high school in St. George.
Tanner explained that St. George police believe the shooting involved the Angelina Heights gang and the Ogden 13 gang, which has expanded from Ogden to Southern Utah.
As a result of the investigation, all three men were charged with obstructing police.
Aguirre was also charged with driving under the influence, purchase or consumption of alcohol by a minor, and driving without a license.
Aguirre was held in the Mesquite Detention Center, while Constantino and Cambron were released to the St. George Police Department.
Three people have been arrested by St. George police in relation to the shooting, including Vincent Edward Garibay, who was charged with aggravated assault and attempted murder; Joe Martinez, who was charged with aggravated assault; and Angela Fuga Martinez, Joe's wife, who was arrested for obstruction of justice.