D.A. discusses guilty plea in murder of U of U football player
Mar 11, 2024, 6:00 PM | Updated: Mar 12, 2024, 6:56 am
This past week marked the two year anniversary since University of Utah football player Aaron Lowe was murdered, deeply impacting football and campus communities. A drive to provide for those in need is being organized by his mother. (Patricia Allen)
(Patricia Allen)
SALT LAKE CITY — On Sept. 26, 2021, University of Utah football player Aaron Lowe was shot and killed at a house party in Salt Lake City. Monday his accused killer, Buk Mawut Buk, 25, pleaded guilty to murder and attempted murder of a second victim.
Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill speaks about the latest developments in the case.
“What Mr. Buk Buk is facing is 15 to life as well as three years to life on the two respective charges and that avoids having to try the matter. But it also achieves the maximum sentence,” Gill said.
Two charges were dropped in exchange for the guilty pleas. Those charges were obstruction of justice and possession of a weapon by a restricted person.
The judge will issue Buk’s sentence on April 29.
What happened
We are investigating a shooting in the 2200-block of South Broadmoor Street. One person died on scene and another was transported to the hospital in critical condition. No arrests have been made. There is no immediate public safety risk. #SLC #SaltLakeCity #Utah #SLCPD pic.twitter.com/S8Q0jYg4Zd
— Salt Lake City Police (@slcpd) September 26, 2021
The shooting occurred at 2215 S. Broadmoor St. in Salt Lake City.
Buk and “his associates” were uninvited guests and were asked to leave, which sparked a confrontation, Gill said, adding Buk continued to engage in violence, ultimately leading to “this absolute tragic and senseless killing.”
Lowe and Fuamoli Pomale attempted to leave the party, but another vehicle was blocking Lowe’s car.
An argument ensued between Lowe and the other men, who refused to move their car. At some point, Buk walked across the street, retrieved a firearm from another man. He then shot Lowe and Pomale, who were standing on the sidewalk, according to court documents as reported by KSL.com.
“Mr. Lowe died on the scene,” Gill said, “and the other individual who was also shot was taken to a hospital and underwent surgery from multiple injuries and was able to survive.”
It’s been 18 months since the shooting. Gill said the guilty plea is the most important piece in the case.
“But the wheels of justice take a little bit of time,” he said, “and so it was about making sure we were prepared to go forward and this disposition . . . gets us the outcome that we want to have, — and on sentencing, Mr. Buk Buk will be spending a long, long time of his natural life in prison where he belongs.”
Related: Gunman pleads guilty to murdering University of Utah football player Aaron Lowe
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