3 dead, including bystander woman and infant, in shooting at Utah festival
3 dead, including bystander woman and infant, in shooting at Utah festival
Three people were killed, including an 8-month-old infant, in a shooting that occurred Sunday, June 15 after an altercation broke out between two groups of people at a festival in Utah, police say.
Five people were hit by gunshots, of which three were fatal, during the WestFest at Centennial Park in West Valley City, a city of about 145,000 people located 12 miles from Salt Lake City. WestFest is an annual four-day festival celebrating the city, according to the festival's website. This year the event ran from June 12 to 15, and featured a carnival, a parade, a talent showcase, rides and fireworks.
Those who died in the shooting include an 18-year-old male, who was part of one of the groups, and a 41-year-old female and an 8-month-old infant, who were bystanders, West Valley City police said in updates posted to X, formerly Twitter.
Two teens, a 17-year-old female and a 15-year-old male, were both hit in the arm during the incident, police said, adding it is not "clear if they were connected to the groups involved." An update on their conditions was not immediately available.
Police: 'Verbal altercation' turns deadly
Police said the incident occurred around 9:20 p.m. Sunday, June 15 as two groups of people got involved in a "verbal altercation." When officers working the carnival "approached to break up the altercation, a 16-year-old male from one of the groups pulled out a gun and fired."
An officer fired in response but did not hit the suspect, identified as a 16-year-old male. He was taken in custody for questioning. Police, in an update June 16, said the suspect's name will not be released given his juvenile status. The names of the 18-year-old and 41-year-old victims, meanwhile, will be released after the necessary protocols, such as notifying families, are followed.
An investigation into the incident is ongoing and police said witnesses were interviewed regarding the incident. Police have also requested witnesses to contact the department at 801-840-4000 to share more information on the incident.
'Must do better,' says mayor
Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson, in a statement, condemned the incident, saying: "We the people can, should, and must do better."
"The violence and deaths at the WestFest celebration in West Valley are tragic and seem to be the result of youth violence," Wilson said. "I am so deeply saddened by the loss of life, especially that of an innocent bystander and an infant."
"My thoughts are with all who were onsite and impacted by this tragedy and the families of those who lost their lives," she added.
Bystander killed amid 'No Kings' protest in Utah
The festival shooting took place on the final day of the event and came just a day after an "innocent bystander" was killed after being caught in the crossfire between a person who pulled out a rifle at demonstrators and members of a peacekeeping team for the "No Kings" protest in Salt Lake City.
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
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