Utah Festival Mass Shooting Leaves Three Dead: What To Know

Three people have been killed and two others injured in a shooting at WestFest carnival in Utah on Sunday, police confirmed.

The incident occurred around 9.20 p.m. at Centennial Park in West Valley City when two groups of people got into a verbal argument, before a teenager pulled out a gun and opened fire, West Valley City Police Department (WVCPD) said.

“One officer fired and did not hit the suspect, but the 16-year-old male suspect was taken into custody,” police said in a statement on X, formerly Twitter.

Three people died in the shooting, including a 41-year-old female and an eight-month-old baby, both of whom were bystanders and not involved with the altercation. An 18-year-old male was also killed.

Two others were also injured after being hit in the arm, including a 17-year-old female and a 15-year-old male. “It is not clear if they were connected to the groups involved,” police said.

What To Know

A pregnant woman was also hurt during the incident while attempting to climb over a fence to escape the shooting, local news station KUTV reported. It is thought that many of those who witnessed the incident fled the scene as the gunfire erupted.

The WVCPD has not yet revealed the nature of the dispute between the two groups involved in the argument, and it remains unclear if the violence was gang-related.

Police are asking bystanders to come forward if they have information about how the shooting unfolded.

Newsweek has contacted the WVCPD by email for comment outside of regular working hours.

The WestFest festival is held each year and features a carnival, parade, talent show, and a firework display, as well as various food vendors.

What People Are Saying

Roxeanne Vainuku, the public information officer for West Valley City, said: “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.”

What Happens Next

Police are conducting interviews as the investigation into the shooting continues.

West Valley City Police said: “Detectives are currently conducting interviews with witnesses. We believe there could be more people out there who witnessed the incident and we would like to talk to them.”