WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah.- For months, authorities searched for Noel Lopez for shooting and killing Farrell Bartschi, in West Valley City, in October 2021. After eight months of searching, Lopez was finally caught.
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On October 28, 2021, the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office filed charges against Lopez. The suspect faces one count of murder, one count of purchase, transfer or possession of a firearm by a restrained person and two counts of felony discharge of a firearm.
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In early October, a $2,000 reward was being offered for Lopez’s capture. In mid-October the reward was increased to $4,000, towards the end of the month it went up to $5,600 and the final amount was $8,500.
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How did Farrell Bartschi die?
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On October 4, West Valley City police were called to a shooting near 3800 South 4200 West. When officers arrived they found the victim, 82-year-old Farrell Bartschi, lying on the ground unconscious. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
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Lopez was tagged as a person of interest the same day because he was in the area at the time of the shooting. He was also wanted for violating his probation.
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