Murder suspect arrested after 16-year-old shot, killed in Ogden

OGDEN, Utah (ABC4) — Isaias Emanuel Carranza, the suspect in the case of the fatal shooting of Mason Caballero, 16, has been arrested after a days-long search, according to Ogden Police.

In the early morning hours of Saturday, Oct. 11, law enforcement took Carranza into custody. Police have not yet released the details surrounding his arrest.

“This case remains as an open/active investigation,” Ogden Police said

in a statement on Saturday. “To preserve the integrity of the ongoing investigation, the Ogden Police Department’s Investigations Bureau will not be releasing specific details at this time regarding the circumstances, location, or manner of Mr. Carranza’s apprehension.”

Details in the case

At around 4:45 p.m. on Oct. 7, Weber Dispatch received a call regarding a gunshot wound at Ben Lomond High School. According to Ogden Police, a white Nissan Versa entered the parking area of the school from the 1000 block of 7th St., between the tennis courts and the swimming pool building.

The car then pulled into the lot south of the swimming pool. The driver and passenger were reportedly looking for help after their friend, Caballero, who had been shot. Caballero was sitting in the back seat, police said.

A school resource officer who had just been notified about the shooting ran to the north parking lot and found numerous students, as school had just been let out, as well as the car in which Caballero was sitting.

The officer found Caballero unresponsive and began CPR as they called for help. Ogden Fire personnel arrived shortly after and took Caballero to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

According to witnesses and video surveillance, the Nissan had been approaching 5th St. and Gramercy Ave., just south of Bonneville Elementary and Highland Junior High, when they began getting shot at by occupants of a black vehicle following them.

As the Nissan tried to escape, the shots from the black vehicle, later identified as a Cadillac CTS, “increased in number and speed,” police said. The Nissan was reportedly hit twice, with one bullet entering through the trunk, striking and killing Caballero.

That bullet passed through into the front seat located in front of Caballero, “barely missing the driver.” A second bullet also narrowly missed the driver after it passed through the back of the car, impacting the windshield.

This incident occurred within 1000 feet of school grounds, police said, with many rounds being found right in front of either Highland Junior High or Bonneville Elementary. The Nissan fled the area and returned to Ben Lomond High School while the occupants of the vehicle called 911.

Through eyewitness identification and video surveillance, police identified the suspect as Isaias Emanuel Carranza. Police said Carranza had been leaning out of the window while driving and shooting at the Nissan.

The shooting reportedly began in the 500 block of Gramercy Ave. and continued north to Second St. as the suspects chased the victims while firing rounds. The incident was reportedly gang related, and the suspects had been seen at around 1:50 p.m. displaying gang signs in the parking lot and confronting other juveniles from a rival gang.

Police contacted the owner of the Cadillac CTS, whose family reported that the car had been given to Carranza. Officers also obtained footage of Carranza exiting the driver’s seat of the vehicle at Two Rivers High School on Oct. 7, the day of the shooting.

Carranza’s phone data places him in the direct area of the homicide at the time it occurred.

On Oct. 8, police served a search warrant at Carranza’s home and found multiple firearm parts, including two Glock magazines, a speed loader, grip extender, and ammunition. At the scene of the crime, police found 22 fired casings — 14 of which were found in front of Bonneville Elementary and eight of which were found in front of Highland Junior High.

Police found the Cadillac CTS abandoned in Roy, Utah. Officers found three additional casings located on or in the Cadillac.

Carranza is facing numerous charges, including one count of aggravated murder (first-degree felony), two counts of attempted aggravated murder (first-degree felony), 25 counts of felony discharge of firearm (first-degree felony), and one count of possession of dangerous weapon by minor (second-degree felony). These offenses are further enhanced by gang enhancement, offense committed in or on the premises of a school zone, and use of a dangerous weapon.