A teenager opened fire Sunday night at a Utah festival outside Salt Lake City, killing three, including an 8-month-old infant.
Officials with the West Valley City, Utah Police Department (WVCPD) said five people were shot in the incident, which took place at 9:20 p.m. during the city’s annual festival, WestFest.
An 18-year-old male, 41-year-old female, and 8-month-old infant were shot and killed in the incident, police said.
Two groups of people had “a verbal altercation,” according to officials, and when police approached the groups to disband the argument, a 16-year-old male from one group “pulled out a gun and fired,” according to police. An officer fired shots but did not hit the suspect, who was immediately taken into custody. (RELATED: Suspect In Assassination Of Minnesota Lawmaker Captured)
Police said the 18-year-old killed in the event was involved in the altercation, but the 41-year-old woman and the 8-month-old were bystanders. A 17-year-old female and 15-year-old male were both shot in the arm. Officials said they are unsure if the surviving teen victims were involved in the argument.
A pregnant woman was also injured after climbing a fence in an attempt to escape the scene.
BREAKING: Multiple people shot at fair in West Valley City, Utah. – ABC4
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“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,” WVCPD Public Information Officer Roxeanne Vainuku told a local affiliate.
Authorities said they will identify the deceased victims Monday after informing their family members.
“I am so deeply saddened by the loss of life, especially that of an innocent bystander and an infant. My thoughts are with all who were onsite and impacted by this tragedy and the families of those who lost their lives,” Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson said in a statement.
Officials are continuing to interview witnesses and said they plan to release the names of the 18-year-old male and 41-year-old female killed, but will not release the names of minors, including the 8-month-old victim and 16-year-old suspect.
A man was fatally shot at a Saturday “No Kings” protest in Salt Lake City when a protester brandished a weapon, causing another man to fire at him and instead strike a bystander.
Utah historically has a low-crime rate, with U.S. News ranking Utah 12th in “Low Violent Crime Rate.” In 2023, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) recorded 232 violent crimes per 100,000 people in Utah, making it 38% lower than the national average. Utah ranked 39th among states for high violent crime rates, according to USA Facts.
Also in 2023, Salt Lake City Police Department recorded a total of 631 violent crimes in the city.
This article was originally published at dailycaller.com
