Utah murder suspect apprehended in Idaho

UPDATE 5/24/19 4:00 p.m.: Idaho State Police reports suspect Jonathan Llana was taken into custody Friday around 3:15 p.m.

He was taken into custody by law enforcement officers from a joint task force consisting of Utah Highway Patrol, Idaho State Police, Cassia County Sheriff’s Office, Twin Falls County Sheriff’s Office, Power County Sheriff’s Office and Idaho Fish and Game.

Details of the arrest are not fully available at this time, but Llana was taken into custody within the initial search area, in the vicinity of the intersection of I-86 and Raft River/Yale Road.

ISP says no injuries to law enforcement personnel or civilians have been reported.

Police had been searching for Llana since late Wednesday when they say he shot and killed Dennis Gwyther of Salt Lake City and injured Gwyther’s passenger on Interstate 84.

Idaho troopers gave chase to Llana’s vehicle until it crashed in southern Idaho and Llana fled on foot.

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UPDATE 5/24/19 11:00 a.m.: Idaho police say the manhunt continues for a man suspected of shooting and killing a motorist in northern Utah.

Idaho State Police spokesman Tim Marsano said officers from several law enforcement agencies were searching fields in rural Cassia County Friday in an effort to find 45-year-old Jonathan Llana.

The Los Angeles man is charged with murder and attempted murder in connection with the Wednesday night shooting that killed Dennis Gwyther of Salt Lake City and injured Gwyther’s passenger.

Utah officials said the two victims were heading toward Idaho on Interstate 84 in northern Utah when the suspect fired multiple rounds at their vehicle. Idaho troopers gave chase to Llana’s vehicle until it crashed into a canal in southern Idaho. Police say Llana then fled on foot.

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UPDATE 5/23/19 8:28 p.m.: American Falls Police Chief Brandon Wilkinson and Power County Sheriff Jim Jefferies are asking residents in Power County and American Falls to lock down their homes.

They are asking everyone to make sure they removed keys from their vehicles, lock their doors, garages, sheds, and report right away any suspicious activity to 208-226-2311.

Law Enforcement is still searching for Jonathan Llana who was last seen on foot in the Raft River area.

Do not approach him as he is considered armed and dangerous.

6:10 p.m.

A California man wanted in the fatal shooting of a motorist on a desolate stretch of interstate highway near the Utah-Idaho border has been charged with aggravated murder.

Online Utah court records show prosecutors filed the charges Thursday afternoon against 45-year-old Jonathan Llana in the killing Wednesday night of 50-year-old Dennis Gwyther of Salt Lake City. The charging documents accuse Llana of firing multiple rounds at a vehicle driven by Gwyther. The passenger in the car was also injured.

Llana was also charged with one count of attempted aggravated murder. He is from Los Angeles.

Authorities were still searching for Llana in southern Idaho near a small town. They warned people that he is armed and dangerous.

Utah State Bureau of Investigation Lt. Ryan Van Fleet says Gwyther and the passenger were traveling in a Range Rover from Salt Lake City to Boise, Idaho, for work.

1:10 p.m.

A southern Idaho sheriff is warning residents near a manhunt for a shooting suspect to keep their doors locked and be wary of strangers.

State and local law enforcement officers were still searching Cassia County early Thursday afternoon for 45-year-old Jonathan Llana, whom they consider a suspect in the shooting death of a Salt Lake City man.

Sheriff Jay Heward told The Times-News newspaper in Twin Falls that there are scattered homes in the area of the manhunt. He says residents should avoid picking up anyone seeking a ride, lock up their homes and report any missing vehicles to law enforcement.

The Idaho State Police says Llana is considered armed and dangerous, though Heward says it’s not clear if the suspect still has a weapon in his possession.

Law enforcement officials say the Wednesday night shooting on Interstate 84 in northern Utah killed Dennis Gwyther of Salt Lake City and injured a passenger.

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12:25 p.m.

Authorities say a driver fatally shot on a northern Utah highway was a Salt Lake City man and that the suspect who is the subject of a manhunt in southern Idaho is a California man who is the registered owner of a car later found crashed after a pursuit.

Lt. Ryan Van Fleet of the Utah State Bureau of Investigation said authorities know of no motive for the Wednesday night shooting of Dennis Gwyther on Interstate 84 or any connection between him and the suspect, 45-year-old Jonathan Llana of Los Angeles.

Van Fleet said Gwyther and a passenger who was shot and wounded were driving to Boise, Idaho, for work when the shooting occurred after both vehicles cleared a slowdown in traffic.

Idaho troopers spotted and chased the car determined to be registered to Llana but officials say the driver fled on foot after it crashed. Authorities then launched a manhunt that continued Thursday.

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8:30 a.m.

Idaho State Police say a manhunt is underway in southern Idaho for a man suspected in a fatal shooting in Utah.

Police say 45-year-old Jonathan Llana is a homicide suspect in the case, and they describe him as being armed and dangerous.

Police say they believe Llana shot and killed someone in northern Utah near Rattlesnake Pass and then drove into Idaho.

Troopers and Cassia County Sheriff’s deputies tried to stop him, but police say he fled in his vehicle before crashing into a field and taking off on foot.

They’re asking anyone who spots the suspect to call law enforcement. Llana is described as being 5’10” tall, about 150 pounds with black hair and brown eyes.

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Idaho State Police and the Cassia County Sheriff’s Office are both looking for an armed and dangerous suspect.

Authorties say Jonathan Llana shot and killed a person in northern Utah, on I-84 Wednesday.

The suspect drove north to Idaho and was stopped by Cassia County Deputies and Idaho State Police.

Llana then ran from law enforcement in his vehicle, and crashed into a field in Cassia County.

He took off on foot and is still missing.

Llana is considered armed and dangerous.

If you see him notify law enforcement immediately.