UPDATE: Victims identified, suspect in custody after deadly shooting near Hunter High School
Jan 13, 2022, 12:02 PM | Updated: Mar 28, 2023, 5:21 pm
Heavy police presence at 4100 S Mountain View Parkway after a shooting on Thursday. Three Granite District schools initiated shelter-in-place. Photo: Sean Moody, KSL TV
WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah — The two teenage boys who died during a shooting near Hunter High School on Thursday morning have been identified, and a 14-year-old boy has been booked into juvenile detention in connection for what happened.
The victims were identified as 15-year-old Paul Tahi and 14-year-old Tivani Lopati. Both boys were students at Hunter.
The two victims from today’s shooting are:
15 year old Paul Tahi, a Hunter High School student
and
14 year old Tivani Lopati, a Hunter High School student
The third victim, a 15 year old Hunter High School student, whose name will not be released, remains in critical condition. pic.twitter.com/hZIRuhrRqh— WVC Police (@WVCPD) January 14, 2022
The third victim, while not identified by police, was named by a post from the Granite School District. He is in critical, but stable condition.
UPDATE on condition of Ephraim Asiata and a message from his family. pic.twitter.com/CdBg8n9D7k
— Granite School Dist. (@GraniteSchools) January 14, 2022
Police said two groups of students engaged in some type of verbal fight, that turned physical and ultimately lead to the shooting. At the time, police did not confirm whether the students attended Hunter High School, saying between the two groups of students, students from other high schools may also have taken part.
West Valley City Police did find a weapon they believe is connected to the shooting. Officers also detained three other people in connection with the fight and shooting, who they questioned and ultimately released.
WATCH BELOW: The live update from West Valley City Police and the Granite School District
Other schools were on lockdown, nearby roads shut down for hours
The shooting took place during Hunter’s first lunch period near Mountain View Corridor and 4100 South, near the high school. Because of its proximity to other schools, Granite School District initiated shelter-in-place protocols for three schools in the area, including Hunter. Grief counselors were available for students at each school.
The roads around the schools were closed for several hours, only opening fully just around 7 p.m. Mountain View Corridor remained closed in both directions between 5400 and 3500 South for around eight hours.
