16-year-old charged with 4 counts of murder in WestFest shooting

SALT LAKE CITY — A 16-year-old has been charged with four counts of aggravated murder following the WestFest shooting on June 15 that left three dead, including a pregnant woman.

In a press conference on Friday, Salt Lake City District Attorney Sim Gill announced that 16-year-old Matthiaz Cantre Lauti Ioane-Register would be charged as an adult.

Ioane-Register is accused of killing an 8-month-old, an 18-year-old, Hassan Lugundi, and a 41-year-old, Fnu Reena. Gill said a fourth charge of murder was filed because Reena was eight weeks pregnant at the time of her death.

In total, the Ioane-Register faces 13 charges. Gill said he would be tried as an adult, which legal experts predicted would be the case.

Ioane-Register was caught on camera firing multiple shots, Gill said.

The 16-year-old reportedly denied involvement in the shooting after being arrested and seeing the footage.

Gill said that Ioane-Register laughed and smiled after finding out Lugundi was dead, but denied knowing him. Ioane-Register and Lugundi were both gang-affiliated, Gill said.

The shooting rocked West Valley City and the broader community. Two other teens were hurt in the shooting, but had been released from the hospital.

“Our hearts go out to the members of our community who have lost their loved ones,” Gill said.