WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah — Three people, including an infant, were killed in a shooting Sunday night at WestFest, the annual festival event held in West Valley City.
West Valley City spokesperson Roxeanne Vainuku said police officers at Centennial Park (near 5600 West and 3100 South) spotted a "verbal altercation" happening around 9:15 p.m. near the main entrance to the festival, near the north end of the park. As they approached to break it up, a 16-year-old boy in one of the groups pulled out a gun and fired multiple shots.
Five people were shot, and three of them died from their wounds.
WATCH: WVC spokeswoman Roxeanne Vainuku gives update Monday afternoon, identifying victims
An 18-year-old man, who Vainuku said is believed to have been the target of the shooting, was shot multiple times and died from his injuries. He was identified as Hassan Lugundi, a resident of West Valley City.
A 41-year-old woman, identified as Fnu Reena, was hit and killed by a stray gunshot. She was an uninvolved bystander and was from West Jordan.
An 8-month-old boy was also hit and killed by a stray bullet. His name is not being released because he is underage. However, his parents spoke with FOX 13 News and said his name was Anderson Garcia Cabrera Jr. A GoFundMe has been set up to help the family, who wants to lay him to rest in Guatemala.
The woman and baby were not related, and neither were connected to the altercation.
Two teenagers suffered non-fatal gunshot wounds to their arms. One was a 17-year-old girl and the other was a 15-year-old boy. Police later confirmed that they were not involved in the initial altercation but were innocent bystanders. They have since been released from the hospital.
One police officer returned fire at the suspect but did not hit him. In an update Monday, Vainuku said the officer fired one shot, and there was a "large stationary backdrop" behind the suspect from the officer's angle.
"This is obviously something that no one would want to encounter, let alone be so deeply involved in it," Vainuku said. "I am so grateful for the quick response of these officers. I would call it nothing short of heroic that these officers rushed into a crowd where gunshots were being fired and quickly brought the suspect into custody."
Vainuku said Monday that the shooting happened not long before the carnival's closing time, which was 11 p.m. It was the final night of the 4-day event.
"We are heartbroken," West Valley City Mayor Karen Lang and the West Valley City Council said in a joint statement. "What should have been a joyful night of community celebration ended in unimaginable tragedy. We mourn the lives lost and stand in deep sorrow with the families whose worlds have been forever changed. West Valley City is a community rooted in resilience, compassion, and unity. In the face of heartbreak, we must lean on one another, care for one another, and recommit ourselves to building a safer, stronger community. We extend our deepest gratitude to the officers, first responders, and medical teams who acted swiftly, as well as the detectives working tirelessly to uncover the full truth. We grieve with you and we ask that all of us continue to stand together and support one another."
Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson added: "The violence and deaths at the WestFest celebration in West Valley are tragic and seem to be the result of youth violence. 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."
The suspect has been booked into a juvenile detention facility, facing three charges of homicide. His name is not being released, but Vainuku said he is from West Valley.
Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill said it's too early to determine whether the 16-year-old will be charged as a juvenile or adult.
“We have not yet screened the case. Whether a case is filed in a juvenile or district court is a decision that is made at time of filing. It would be premature for us to talk about these matters at this time," Gill said in a statement.
The reason behind the initial argument is not yet clear, and officials said they have not confirmed whether it was gang-related at this time.
“I feel like people should stop bringing guns to events like that because they’re supposed to be for families and kids," said Ivy Kanga, who was at WestFest that night.
"I don't even know how to explain this night," added one witness. "I am traumatized. I don't think I would ever go to a fair, especially if they're not checking the people that walk in."
"I was very scared because I'm not used to hearing gunshots, and I almost had a panic attack because that was scary," said another witness.
The police department is asking anyone else with information on the shooting to contact them.
