Preferred Name | Alex Taylor Franco | City | Taylorsville | ||
Other Names Used | State | UT | |||
Age | 21 | Gender Identity | Transman | ||
Race | White | Date of Death | 03/17/2024 |
Click to see Legal Name
Alexzia Franco
Crime Category: Robbery | Weapon Used: Gun
On March 17th, 2024, in Taylorsville, UT, Alex was shot by acquaintances during a gun sale. An argument broke out and he was shot. The shooter and accomplices were all minors.
Report: “Franco willingly entered a 2000s white Jeep Liberty around 4:15 p.m. on Sunday, March 17, but was killed by a single gunshot fired by the 15-year-old suspect following a brief exchange of words, according to statements posted to social media by the Taylorsville Police Department. His body was found on Tuesday, March 19, in a remote desert region outside Lehi.
Alyssa Henry, Franco’s girlfriend, told local CBS affiliate KUTV that the three were “friends of friends” who were going to give the pair a ride to a local park. However, police say Franco was meeting with the youths to purchase a gun.
The three youths reportedly told police they intended to rob Franco, but he was shot and killed during an argument instead. The 17-year-old teen reportedly admitted to police he was the driver of the vehicle, while the 15-year-old reportedly confessed to his girlfriend that he shot Franco with a 9 mm handgun.”
Report, girlfriend: “He didn’t do anything,” said Alyssa Henry, Franco’s girlfriend. “All of them looked at me and then drove away, and I started chasing the car, and I got to the end of the street before someone found me and called the police.”
Report: “The three youths, aged 15, 17, and 17, were taken into custody last week for the abduction and murder of Alex Franco, 21, outside the home of his girlfriend on March 17. The accused have not been named due to their ages.”
Last Public Update: 03/26/2024
Location: 3800 West and 5700 South, Taylorsville, UT, at around 4:15 P.M.
Video: Fox 13 News Utah: 03/20/2024 Gun sale allegedly led to abduction, shooting of Alex Franco
Personal Information:
Alex lived with his girlfriend, Alyssa Henry.
Family: “He walks in the room and everyone brightens up immediately, so it’s really hard to even think that somebody could be so mad to do this to him.”
LPG Lesbian: “In 2021, Alex earned a scholarship from his high school toward his college education. When he posted about it, he shares his journey turning around his academics to earn straight A’s in his senior year. His enthusiasm is palpable. Alex planned to attend Dixie Statee University. In other posts, Alex shared his experiences as an apprentice in the building trades.”
News Timeline: 03/17/2024 | 03/18/2024 | 03/18/2024 | 03/19/2024 | 03/20/2024 | 03/26/2024
ABC4 Utah. (2024a, March 19). ABC4 hears from family of missing 21-year-old – Alex Franco. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAvD5wuhAN8
ABC4 Utah. (2024b, March 19). Two teenagers arrested in connection to possible abduction-turned-homicide of 21-year-old – Alex Franco. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMhA0pmiPa8
ABC4 Utah. (2024c, March 20). Friends, family honor Alex Franco at vigil held the day his body was found. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBEl55t6Kck
Bree, J., Burt, S., & DeBrule, D. (2024, March 17). 21-year-old found dead after being allegedly abducted in Taylorsville; 2 teens arrested – Alex Franco. Fox 13 Utah. https://www.fox13now.com/news/crime/man-allegedly-abducted-in-taylorsville-over-weekend-found-dead
Fox 13 News Utah. (2024a, March 19). Loved ones hold vigil for 21-year-old murder victim – Alex Franco. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0U0Bp0fNFM
Fox 13 News Utah. (2024b, March 20). Gun sale allegedly led to abduction, shooting of Alex Franco. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2C5262jx46Q
Franco, A. (2024). Alex Franco – Personal Facebook. Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100034977604194
Franco, Z. (2024, March 17). Alex “Boo” Taylor Franco – Memorial . Everloved. https://everloved.com/life-of/alex-franco/donate/?fbclid=IwAR3oWKNMFl0kQupyMWN0dK9U_gYhg0R4LrZUB6FGwuup0jXMJJk2fGAWw_g
HRC. (2024, March 17). Remembering Alex Franco, 21-Year-Old Transgender Man “With a Big Heart” Killed in Utah. Human Rights Campaign. https://www.hrc.org/news/remembering-alex-franco-21-year-old-transgender-man-with-a-big-heart-killed-in-utah
Kerr, S. (2024, March 21). Trans Man Alex Franco, 21, Shot to Death in Utah. PGH Lesbian Correspondents. https://www.pghlesbian.com/2024/03/trans-man-alex-franco-21-shot-to-death-in-utah/
KSL News. (2024, March 20). Taylorsville residents grieve missing man shot over the weekend, found in desert – Alex Franco. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJHD6r-5OSo
KUTV 2 News Salt Lak City. (2024, March 18). Woman pleads for safe return of boyfriend possibly shot, abducted in Taylorsville – Alex Franco. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ly6MILanFF8
KUTV 2 News Salt Lake City. (2024, March 19). Police Give Update On Abduction – Alex Franco. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGKx94WfBhE
Murphy, S. (2024, March 19). Friends, family honor Alex Franco at vigil held the day his body was found. ABC4. https://www.abc4.com/news/wasatch-front/friends-family-honor-alex-franco-vigil/
Padgett, D. (2024, March 26). Police arrest 3 teens for allegedly kidnapping and killing young trans man, dumping his body in the desert – Alex Franco. Advocate. https://www.advocate.com/crime/alex-franco-arrests-killing
Sida, C. (2024, March 18). Woman pleads for safe return of boyfriend possibly shot, abducted in Taylorsville – Alex Franco. ABC 2 KUTV. https://kutv.com/news/local/woman-pleads-for-safe-return-of-boyfriend-possibly-shot-abducted-in-taylorsville-white-jeep
Taylorsville Police Department. (2024, March 20). Taylorsville Police Department – Alex Franco. Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/TVPDutah/posts/pfbid0Kjy21amXSUWcM3QPhKNpSgEguxqTC3Xuo3WHjznRS5NYhyLB2WGwyWWz22aiAGZcl
Images are publicly available through public sources, personal posts, family members and information websites as well as stills from cited videos and news websites. Images are digitally enhanced for artistic purposes. All information is accurate to the best of the author’s knowledge at time of publishing. Updates will be made as needed.