Charges Filed Allegedly Paid to Kill Brother for "Snitching"

Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill announced an attempted murder charge filed against Javier Rafael Pedregon-Magana for his alleged involvement in the stabbing of a relative, J.M.-A., on Christmas day. 

On December 25, 2024, a witness saw the victim, J.M.-A, get out of a black car on I-15. The driver of the black vehicle started to accelerate towards J.M.-A, but the victim was able to get away by jumping over a concrete barrier. The driver of the black car then drove away. When law enforcement arrived, they noted that J.M.-A was disoriented, had multiple lacerations, was bleeding heavily, and was having trouble remaining conscious; he was taken to IMC hospital. A family member told police that the victim and the defendant had been celebrating Christmas together when they left to go home. At around 10:35 p.m., that same family member got a call from J.M.-A saying he had been stabbed by the defendant who the victim said then took his car. 

On December 26, 2024, Utah Highway Patrol troopers were told that the defendant was circling IMC hospital in J.M.-A’s black car. As troopers were going to the hospital, they found the defendant in the vehicle and tried to stop him, but he fled. Troopers were able to trap the car so it could not move and took the defendant into custody. Post-Miranda, the defendant told law enforcement that J.M.-A was suspected of “snitching” and there was a hit out on him.  The defendant told police he had been asked to kill J.M.-A for $25,000 and to clear the defendant’s name; the defendant said there were hit orders on himself as well. The defendant told investigators another person had been in the trunk of the car when he and J.M.-A got into the car. He said while they were driving the other person had lowered the seat from the trunk into the main part of the car and attacked J.M.-A. The defendant told police that when J.M.-A got out of the car, the defendant got into the driver’s seat and the other individual told him to hit J.M.-A with the car. The defendant said that he then dropped off the other individual. 

Javier Rafael Pedregon-Magana is charged with one count of first-degree felony attempted murder and one count of third-degree felony failure to respond to an officer’s signal to stop. Charges were filed on Monday, January 6, 2024.

“We appreciate the witness who saw the survivor of this violent crime on the side of the road and reported it to law enforcement to ensure that justice could be served. It is not only the obligation of law enforcement to help stop crime, but it is also the responsibility of everyone in our community,” said Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill. “All persons accused of wrongdoing are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.”