WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah (AP) — A tragic incident unfolded at a carnival in a Salt Lake City suburb on Sunday when a 16-year-old boy shot five people during a confrontation between two groups, resulting in the deaths of three individuals, including an 8-month-old infant, according to the police.
Notably, the shooting occurred in West Valley City just a day after another shooting incident that killed a man at a “No Kings” protest, marking a weekend of unusual violence in the Salt Lake City area as reported by AP News.
Law enforcement officers present at WestFest at Centennial Park witnessed the confrontation between the two groups on Sunday night, leading to the tragic shooting.
According to reports from the authorities, a 16-year-old from one of the groups pulled out a gun and opened fire as the officers intervened. The shooter fatally struck an 18-year-old man and also claimed the lives of an infant and a 41-year-old woman bystander.
Two other teenagers, a 17-year-old girl, and a 15-year-old boy, sustained gunshot wounds to their arms during the incident, though their connection to the groups involved remains unclear.
The 16-year-old suspect was promptly apprehended by the police, with authorities refraining from releasing his name due to his juvenile status, as confirmed by West Valley City spokesperson Roxeanne Vainuku during a late-night news conference on Sunday.
Investigations are ongoing as authorities interview witnesses to gather more details about the tragic events. Vainuku emphasized that it is yet to be determined if the incident was gang-related.
With approximately 10,000 attendees at the carnival, the community is grappling with the aftermath of the senseless violence that transpired.
The incident at the “No Kings” protest the day prior, which saw a man associated with the rally shooting at an armed individual, resulting in casualties, further underscores the recent surge in violent events in the region.
