Illegal Alien Father, Son Implicated In Slaying Of Catholic Deacon
A police statement filed with the Wasatch County Jail implicates a father and son in the shooting death Sunday of a Heber City man, but it does not explain a motive.

Antonio Pelaez-Vasquez, 55, and Cunny A. Pelaez, 19, admitted to being in their van when someone shot and killed Aniceto Armendariz, according to a probable cause statement filed by the Utah Highway Patrol.

"During the same interview," the statement reads, "one of the suspects described the shooting incident and the weapon used."

Police recovered a 20-gauge shotgun and shells from the scene and say Pelaez described the firearm.

The statement does not say why Armendariz was killed. As for a relationship between Armendariz and the father and son, the statement says: "The victim and . . . one of the suspects had been associates prior to this incident in a school setting."

UHP Lt. Doug McCleve said investigators believe the victim and the suspects had "some kind of acquaintance prior to this occurring" but are still trying to determine the nature of the acquaintance.

Armendariz, a Catholic deacon who also worked with Catholic charities, and his wife were driving to Heber City on U.S. Highway 40 Sunday night after a Mass in Park City.

Near the Mayflower exit, a blue Chevy minivan in the left lane pulled beside their car and someone began firing a gun. Armendariz was shot in the head and died immediately. His wife escaped the shooting and the ensuing crash without injury.

Pelaez-Vasquez and Pelaez, who are undocumented immigrants, were being held in the Wasatch County Jail on Thursday on suspicion of aggravated homicide. They had not been formerly charged with any crime.

The pair was caught near the scene shortly after police arrived