Three Dead, Including Infant, in Mass Shooting at Utah Carnival; Teen Suspect in Custody
- Victor Nwoko
- Jun 16
- 2 min read
A community celebration in West Valley City, Utah turned tragic Sunday night when gunfire erupted during a carnival, leaving five people shot—three of them fatally, including an 8-month-old infant.
According to West Valley City Police, the violence broke out at the annual WestFest carnival when officers noticed two groups involved in a verbal altercation. As authorities attempted to intervene, a 16-year-old male from one of the groups pulled out a firearm and opened fire.
The shooting resulted in the deaths of an 18-year-old male believed to be part of one of the groups, a 41-year-old female bystander, and the infant. Two additional victims—a 17-year-old female and a 15-year-old male—were wounded in the arm. Authorities have not confirmed whether the wounded teens were associated with either group involved in the initial dispute.
The 16-year-old suspect was immediately taken into custody and transported to the police station for questioning. His identity has not been released due to his age.
During the chaos, a pregnant woman was injured while attempting to climb a fence to escape the scene. She was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
Authorities described the incident as deeply painful for the community, especially given the family-friendly nature of WestFest. “It's heartbreaking, I think for all of us, to see something like this happen at something that is just a real treasure, something that we really enjoy in our community,” said a police spokesperson.
WestFest, an annual celebration in Utah’s second-largest city, had drawn crowds for food, entertainment, and rides. The unexpected eruption of violence has now prompted concerns about safety at large public gatherings and has shaken the city’s sense of peace.
Police are continuing to investigate the shooting, including the origin of the weapon and whether others may have been involved. Authorities are urging anyone with video footage or information to come forward.
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