What started as a fun night filled with music, food, and laughter at the annual WestFest celebration turned into an unimaginable tragedy. Just before 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, gunfire erupted near the carnival rides at Centennial Park, leaving three people dead—including an 8-month-old baby—and two others wounded.
Families who came out to enjoy the night were suddenly running for their lives.
The Victims: A Baby, a Teen, and a Mother
Police confirmed that the shooting took the lives of:
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Hassan Lugundi, 18, from West Valley City. He was believed to be the intended target of the shooter.
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Fnu Reena, 41, a mother from West Jordan who was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.
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An 8-month-old baby, who tragically died in a hospital hours after the shooting.
Two more young people—a 15-year-old boy and a 17-year-old girl—were shot in the arms but are expected to survive. A pregnant woman was also hurt trying to escape by climbing over a fence.
What Happened?
According to police, a fight broke out between two groups of teenagers at the carnival. As officers tried to intervene, a 16-year-old boy pulled out a handgun and started shooting. Panic spread in seconds. Witnesses described hearing six or seven shots and watching parents scoop up their children and run for safety.
One officer did fire a shot in response but missed. The shooter was arrested on the spot.
The Suspect and the Ongoing Investigation
The 16-year-old suspect is now in juvenile detention and facing three counts of homicide. Police are still trying to understand what led to the shooting—whether it was gang-related or a personal dispute that spiraled out of control.
Officials are also looking into how the teen got access to a gun in the first place.
Just One Day Earlier: Another Shooting in Downtown Salt Lake City
This wasn’t the only gun violence that weekend. On Friday, at a peaceful protest downtown, a man carrying an AR-15-style rifle approached the crowd. A volunteer peacekeeper tried to stop him and opened fire. In the chaos, a beloved community member, Arthur Folasa Ah Loo, was shot and killed.
Arthur was a respected leader in Utah’s Pacific Islander community and had even competed on Project Runway. His death deeply shook many in Salt Lake City.
A City in Mourning
West Valley City Mayor Karen Lang called the carnival shooting a “tragedy beyond words.” Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson added, “We have to ask ourselves how we got here—and what we can do to keep it from happening again.”
Many locals are angry and heartbroken. How could a teenager bring a gun to a family event? Why weren’t there more safety measures in place?
WestFest had plenty of police officers present, but no metal detectors. The shooting happened just 100 yards from the command post.
What Happens Now?
Police are interviewing witnesses, reviewing surveillance footage, and trying to piece together what led to such senseless violence. The district attorney’s office will decide if the teenage suspect should be charged as an adult.
City officials are also taking a hard look at how to make public events safer in the future. That includes stronger security, better conflict prevention, and more community support.
The Bigger Picture
In just 24 hours, Salt Lake County lost four lives to gun violence—two of them completely innocent bystanders, including a baby. These tragedies have left the community in shock and searching for answers.
What should have been a weekend of unity and celebration turned into one of heartbreak. Now, residents are coming together not just to grieve—but to demand change.
