19-year-old man found guilty of murder after 2022 shooting at Airbnb house party

SALT LAKE CITY — A man was convicted Monday of first-degree murder after a jury found him guilty of shooting and killing two men during a house party at a Draper Airbnb.

A jury in the Third District Court found Daniel Martinez guilty of the murders of Austin Terry Powell, 27, and Jonathan July Fuentes, 21.

The three had been at the party late on April 2, 2022. Early the next morning, the Airbnb manager arrived to shut it down and asked everyone to leave. Airbnb confirmed that the party was unauthorized and the manager did not agree to it taking place beforehand.

Court documents show that Martinez began breaking the beer bottles by throwing them into the street along with another person. Powell confronted them, telling them to stop, and a verbal altercation ensued.

Martinez began “jumping and jumping around” as he fired a gun at Powell’s car and subsequently struck Fuentes.

Powell was found by police inside his car, not breathing. He died on the spot.

Fuentes was rushed to Intermountain Medical Center, where he was declared brain dead and died later that day, the district attorney’s office said.

“(Martinez’s) actions were hurtful and reckless. Two people ended their lives far too soon. Mr. Martinez showed a complete disregard for the sanctity of human life and the safety of others when he fired into an occupied vehicle. The jury made the right call,” said District Attorney Sim Gill.

Another man connected to the case, Ashtyn Ortega, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in May 2023 because he allegedly passed the gun to Martinez, who fired 10 times. Even though he did not fire any shots, Ortega was sentenced to 5 years to life in prison.

Martinez’s sentencing is scheduled for July 18, and he faces 25 years to life in prison.