West Valley Police provide update on deadly WestFest shooting, identify victims

WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah (ABC4) — West Valley City Police have identified the victims of a shooting that killed three people at WestFest late Sunday evening.

According to Deputy Director of Communications for West Valley City Police Department, Roxeanne Vainuku, the shooting occurred around 9:15 p.m. on the final day of the festival. At the north end of the festival near the main entrance, a 16-year-old produced a handgun and fired towards 18-year-old Hassan Lugundi.

The suspect struck the Lugundi, in addition to 41-year-old Fnu Reena from West Jordan and an 8-month-old boy from West Valley City. All three died from their wounds.

Two other teenagers were also struck, both in the arm: a 17-year-old female and a 15-year-old male. They were treated for their injuries and released from the hospital.

Police stated that they will not be identifying the juvenile victims, but they confirmed that the 8-month-old boy and the 41-year-old woman were not related.

Two officers quickly engaged the suspect. One fired at him but did not strike him, and they took him into custody within seconds.

The suspect has been arrested, charged with three counts of homicide, and has been booked into the Juvenile Detention Center. Police are not identifying the suspect because he is a juvenile, but they confirmed that he lives in West Valley City.

Police stated that the suspect was targeting the 18-year-old victim specifically, but they are still investigating the exact nature of their connection. They are also investigating whether gang activity was involved.

Police are determining whether there was an altercation between two groups leading to an argument, as was initially reported.

Because an officer discharged a weapon during this incident, this has been deemed an Officer Involved Critical Incident (OICI), and Salt Lake County OICI protocols have been activated. Because of this, West Valley City Police have not been able to speak to the two officers involved.

A team from Salt Lake City Police Department is investigating the OICI, and West Valley City Police will not be privy to the officer involved statements until the investigation is complete in order to ensure the integrity and impartiality of the investigation.

Event organizers estimated 1,000-2,000 people were still at the festival, even as it was winding down to close, police said.

West Valley City Police has victim services available for people who were at the festival. Their victim services office will direct witnesses to resources to help them process this “horrific incident,” Vainuku said, and their victim advocates are working with the families of the victims.

Vainuku also stated that they had “extensive” security at WestFest and there was an “extensive” police presence, and the shooting actually took place 100 yards from the police mobile command post. She said that this incident was not about a lack of resources or police presence, it was something completely different.

In a joint statement, West Valley City Mayor Karen Lang and the West Valley City Council said, “We are heartbroken.”

“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,” Lang added. “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.”