An 8-month-old baby was shot dead along with multiple others during a mass shooting at a carnival. The shooter, an enraged 16-year-old, killed a total of three people and injured three others, including a pregnant woman, on Sunday night.
The six victims were among a large crowd at WestFest carnival, an annual cultural celebration that also honours the community, held in West Valley City, Utah, just outside Salt Lake City.
The incident occurred around 9:15 p.m. near the event’s police command post after a heated argument broke out between two groups of teenagers. During the confrontation, the 16-year-old suspect brandished a handgun and began firing into the crowd.
The sudden gunfire sent festivalgoers into panic and left three people dead. Among those killed are 18-year-old Hassan Lugundi, who was reportedly involved in the dispute; 41-year-old Fnu Reena, an innocent bystander from West Jordan; and an unnamed 8-month-old baby who was also caught in the crossfire.
Among those injured are a 17-year-old girl and a 15-year-old boy, who were both shot in the arm but are expected to recover. A pregnant woman trying to escape the chaos was also injured as she attempted to climb a fence. There has been no confirmation on whether any of the victims were the baby’s parent.
Police officers who were stationed nearby responded immediately. One officer discharged a shot in an attempt to stop the suspect, but missed. The teenager was quickly subdued and taken into custody. He is now being held in juvenile detention and faces three homicide charges.
Footage of the incident shared online captured moments of the suspect’s arrest. In the video, there are flashing carnival lights, screaming festival-goers, and several officers restraining a teen on the ground. A man could be heard shouting, “You shot a f**king baby,” echoing the horror many felt that night.
Authorities are still investigating the motive behind the shooting and whether it may have gang-related ties. West Valley City police are encouraging witnesses to contact the police as they continue piecing together what led to the deadly eruption of violence at the carnival.
