Authorities say James Randell Witten was shot outside his home while taking out the trash.
WEST POINT, Utah — A 23-year-old man accused of killing a 71-year-old military veteran outside his Davis County home has been extradited to Utah after being arrested in Las Vegas, authorities said.
Axel Eduardo Chavez faces charges tied to the May 30 shooting death of James Randell “Randy” Witten in West Point, a city about 30 miles north of Salt Lake City. Investigators have not announced a motive, and officials have not said the two men knew each other.
Witten was outside his home near 2000 West in the early evening when he was shot. Family members said he had gone out to take out the trash. Neighbors reported hearing gunfire in the quiet residential area, and deputies later focused on a maroon Honda Civic seen leaving after the shooting. Witten’s wife, Maria Witten, described the attack as random. “They killed an old man who was doing no harm,” she said in local reporting after her husband’s death.
The Davis County Sheriff’s Office said detectives worked for weeks to identify a suspect and trace his movements. Officials said they developed information that led them to Las Vegas, where Chavez was arrested June 16 by Las Vegas Metropolitan Police. Authorities said a Honda Civic believed to be connected to the shooting was located, and investigators were no longer asking the public to help find that vehicle. Deputies said they are still trying to determine whether anyone else was involved.
Chavez was booked into a Utah jail at 8 p.m. Monday after being extradited from Nevada. He faces counts including murder, felony discharge of a firearm, obstruction of justice and prohibited dangerous weapon conduct. Authorities said Chavez was believed to be from El Salvador and had been living in Los Angeles, though they have not publicly explained why he was in Utah or Las Vegas before his arrest.
Witten was remembered as a 20-year Air Force veteran who served in Vietnam. His obituary said he enjoyed hiking, biking, camping, writing short stories and traveling in his RV. Family members and neighbors described him as a peaceful man who spent time serving his community and exploring the outdoors with friends. His death drew heavy police activity to the West Point neighborhood and left residents asking why an ordinary evening outside a home turned deadly.
Investigators said the case remains active. The sheriff’s office has asked for information about Chavez’s whereabouts between May 28 and June 16 as detectives review the days before and after the shooting. Officials said additional evidence, including video and vehicle information, helped move the case forward, but they have not released a full timeline of Chavez’s alleged movements.
Chavez is now in Utah custody as the criminal case moves into court. Prosecutors are expected to outline the allegations in future filings and hearings. As of Wednesday, officials had not announced a motive or confirmed whether more arrests were expected.
Author note: Last updated July 1, 2026.