Investigation into officer conduct at 2025 WestFest shooting resolves, no charges filed

Related video above: WestFest shooting suspect charged with four counts of murder

WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah (ABC4) — After conducting an investigation into officer conduct at the WestFest shooting in June, the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office has declined to file charges against the officer who fired at the suspect.

On Sunday, June 15, a suspect fired into the crowd at the WestFest carnival. The suspect was aiming at 18-year-old Hassan Lugundi. Lugundi, 41-year-old Fnu Reena from West Jordan, and an 8-month-old boy from West Valley City were all shot and killed.

Police later identified the suspect as 16-year-old Matthiaz Cantre Lauti Ioane-Register. He was charged as an adult with 13 felonies, including four counts of first-degree felony aggravated murder.

During the shooting, an officer fired a shot at Ioane-Register but did not hit him. However, because an officer discharged their firearm, the Officer Involved Critical Incident (OICI) protocol was activated. That means that an independent investigation must be conducted by an outside agency, and in this case, it was the Salt Lake City Police Department.

After completing the investigation, the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office reviewed the facts and declined to file criminal charges against the officer for using deadly force against Ioane-Register.

When the officer fired the weapon, the suspect was running away, and he dropped his handgun, allowing for the officers to take him into custody.

The findings letter concluded that the officer’s “use of deadly force would likely be subject to the affirmative legal defense of justification under Utah law, and we decline to file a criminal charge against him.” What this means is the DA’s office concluded that if charges were filed, a jury would likely find him justified in his use of deadly force in order to prevent additional death or serious injury.

Law enforcement officers in Utah are legally justified in using deadly force when preventing an escape from custody when the officer has reason to believe that the suspect has caused death or serious injury or when the officer believes that the use of deadly force is necessary to prevent death or serious injury.

Additionally, the investigation concluded that the bullet fired by the officer did not hit any of the gunshot victims on the scene.

Ioane-Register’s case is still in progress, and his next court hearing is scheduled for October 14.