Utah’s biggest stories of 2025

SALT LAKE CITY — In 2025, Utahns saw moments of hope and heartbreak in the state. The year had several stories that not only shook our community but also drew attention from across the nation.

Here are just some of the biggest stories of 2025.

Murder of Charlie Kirk

On Sept. 10, political activist Charlie Kirk was shot and killed while speaking to thousands at Utah Valley University during his “This is the Turning Point Tour.” The shooting triggered a two-day manhunt for the person responsible, bringing in federal authorities to help with the investigation.

Investigators released photos and videos of the alleged killer entering the campus before the shooting and jumping off the roof of the university after shots were fired. They hoped the public would help with identifying him.

Just hours after releasing the footage, investigators said family members and friends identified 22-year-old Tyler James Robinson of Washington County as the killer and had him in custody.

Robinson made his first public in-person court appearance in November, and his next hearing is set for January 16, 2026.

Two Tremonton Officers Killed
On the eve of celebrations for 100 years of the Golden Spike Rodeo and Box Elder County Fair, two Termonton-Garland police officers were killed in the line of duty while responding to a domestic violence call.

Officer Eric Estrada and Sgt. Lee Sorenson arrived at the house where their suspected killer, 33-year-old Ryan Bate, allegedly grabbed his rifle and began firing, killing them both.

Box Elder County Deputy Mike Allred and his K9 showed up shortly after the gunfire and were also struck, but survived their injuries.

Bate is currently in jail, facing 20 charges for the shootings, and Utah Gov. Spencer Cox is calling for the death penalty.

Michigan Church Attack

While the small town of Grand Blanc, Michigan, is miles from Utah, an attack at a place of worship for the members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints shocked Utahns and local leaders.

According to Michigan authorities, 40-year-old Thomas Sanford crashed his pickup truck into the building, fired his gun at the congregation and set the chapel ablaze.

Four church members were killed in the violent rampage, and another nine were injured from bullets or smoke inhalation.

Sanford was killed by responding police officers. The FBI said Sanford’s shooting was motivated by “anti-religious beliefs” against the church.

Shooting Survivor’s Hope & Healing

Sha Reh nearly lost his life to a bullet in December 2024 and now must learn to read and face his future differently.

Police said his father shot and killed all of his immediate family. He was the lone survivor and was found in the garage two days later. The shooting left him with what doctors call “new vision loss.” They don’t know whether he’ll see anything more than shadows.

Inspired by his deceased younger brother, Reh learned to overcome his new reality by attending the Utah Schools for the Deaf and Blind and graduated from Granger High School.

The University of Utah awarded Reh a Presidential Scholarship to pay for all his college expenses.

Salt Lake Bees New Ballpark

In 2023, Utah’s Minor League Baseball team announced it would be moving from the Smith’s Ballpark in Salt Lake City to a new under-development stadium in South Jordan.

The Ballpark at America First Square broke ground in 2024 and was set to open in April 2025. Although it looked far from finished in late winter 2025, project leaders kept the promise of opening before the Bees’ first home game.

By the end of the season, the Bees had settled into their new hive and the ballpark that once looked impossible to finish on time had already become part of the neighborhood.

New Church Leadership

On Sept. 28, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints received the news that President Russell M. Nelson had passed away at the age of 101. President Nelson celebrated his birthday on September 9th, and he wrote an op-ed piece for Time.com titled “We All Deserve Dignity and Respect.”

President Nelson was called as the church’s prophet in 2018, at the age of 93. President Nelson visited 32 countries & territories, announced 200 new temples, and made many policy changes in the faith.

On Oct. 14, President Dallin H. Oaks was ordained the 18th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

 

No Kings Shooting

The shooting at the “No Kings” rally in downtown Salt Lake in June took the life of a beloved community member and left another demonstrator wounded.

As thousands made their way through Downtown Salt Lake City during an otherwise peaceful demonstration, protestors scattered as gunfire erupted near the crowd. Some ran to the aid of a man who’d been fatally hit, 39-year-old Afa Ah Loo, while police rushed to 24-year-old Arturo Gamboa, who was openly carrying a rifle in the protest.

Authorities recommended that Gamboa be charged with Loo’s death, even though he didn’t fire his weapon.

After months of no charges and new information from the police, the Salt Lake County district attorney’s office announced it would be charging 43-year-old Matt Alder, a so-called peacekeeper for the rally.

 

WestFest Deadly Shooting

Just a day after the No Kings shooting, another community event turned deadly at the WestFest event in West Valley City.

Several officers on duty at the festival noticed that things escalated between two groups arguing before the gunfire erupted.

Fnu Reena, 41, and an 8-month-old baby boy were shot and later died at a hospital, both innocent bystanders. The intended target, 18-year-old Hasan Lugundi, was shot and killed. The gunshots also injured two teenagers.

Police arrested 16-year-old Matthiaz Centre Lauti Ioane-Register. He was charged as an adult with four counts of aggravated murder and nine counts of discharge of a firearm. Police say the shooting was gang-related.

Fire on Main Street

A kitchen fire in Downtown Salt Lake City destroyed four local businesses that many considered the city’s social hub.

The flames shooting from the London Belle billowed from the roof of the historic restaurant, spreading to Whisky Street, White Horse and Los Tapitos.

City leaders launched a fund for employees, and Modern Family star and co-founder of Bar X and Beer Bar, Ty Burrell, joined Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall in the effort.

The fundraising raised over $500,000 for employees, and the Salt Lake City Department of Economic Development worked to secure low-interest loans for businesses.

 

Millcreek Apartment Fire

A massive, mid-summer fire pushed 79 people and their pets from their homes at the Willow Glen apartments in Millcreek.

Fire investigators said it was sparked by a lawnmower in a nearby field when it hit a rock, sparking and igniting the dry grass. The high temperatures and winds over 30 mph caused it to spread rapidly.

KSL learned that the field was a public utilities maintenance yard owned by Salt Lake City, and that days earlier, Millcreek had told Salt Lake City that the weeds were overgrown and in violation of its city code.

While Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall called for an audit of the city’s owned property, it didn’t change the reality that Willow Glen apartment residents lost their homes and even pets.

In a show of support, community members filled Millcreek City Hall with donations. So many that the city had to stop accepting them. The city’s online fundraiser raised 41,000 for victims. City leaders said $ 2,300 will go to each affected household.

Redistricting

Utah politics in 2025 have been dominated by one word: redistricting.

Third District Judge Dianna Gibson threw out the state’s congressional map after a lawsuit argued it was gerrymandered to favor Republicans and failed to comply with Proposition 4.

The GOP-controlled Legislature drew up a new one, but the judge rejected it, instead of picking one from the groups that sued, which created a congressional district entirely concentrated in Salt Lake County, which is much more favorable to Democrats.

Several are now running for it, most notably former Congressman Ben McAdams, current state senators Kathleen Riebe and Nate Blouin, and former state senator Derek Kitchen.

Republican lawmakers vowed to appeal the lower court’s decision to the Utah Supreme Court, but by the end of 2025, the map will be in place for the 2026 midterm elections.

Ten Years of SafeUT

A decade ago, the SafeUT app launched as a simple way for Utah students to reach out for help, any time, day or night. In 2025, it became one of the state’s most-used mental health tools.

Rep. Steve Eliason, R-Sandy, co-sponsored SafeUT in an effort to combat youth suicide. Since its creation, the app has expanded beyond K-12 students to serve the National Guard and other frontline professions.

Parents can also access SafeUT, connecting with licensed social workers 24/7 about their children or their own mental health.

This year, the app received a record number of school threats, and officials say it prevented several potential crises from escalating.

‘Jelly Roll Kid’

An 8-year-old with Down syndrome from Weber County captured the hearts of many people this past May when his love of a favorite music artist got him some VIP treatment.

Brandon Barela showed no fear at his school’s talent show, sharing his love for country artist, Jelly Roll. The moment became viral and grabbed the artist’s attention.

The country singer, who has announced plans to move to Utah, in turn invited Brandon to his concert at the Delta Center. But not only that, Brandon met one of his heroes, and the experience did not disappoint.

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