Fact Check: 16-year-old gunman opens fire during carnival argument, killing two others.

Fact Check: "16-year-old gunman opens fire during carnival argument, killing two others."

What We Know

On June 15, 2025, a tragic shooting occurred at WestFest, a carnival in West Valley City, Utah. According to police reports, a 16-year-old boy opened fire during a confrontation between two groups, resulting in the deaths of three individuals, including an 8-month-old infant and a 41-year-old woman, as well as injuring two other teenagers (AP News, Washington Post, Reuters). The shooter was quickly apprehended and charged with three counts of homicide, although his identity has not been released due to his age (New York Post).

The incident unfolded near a police mobile command post, where officers were present to monitor the carnival. Witnesses reported that the shooting followed a verbal altercation between the groups. The police stated that the shooter appeared to have targeted one of the deceased, 18-year-old Hassan Lugundi, while the other victims were bystanders caught in the crossfire (AP News, Washington Post).

Analysis

The claim that a 16-year-old gunman opened fire during a carnival argument, killing two others, is substantiated by multiple reliable sources. The reports consistently detail the events leading up to the shooting, the identities of the victims, and the subsequent arrest of the shooter. The sources used in this analysis include major news outlets such as the Associated Press, Washington Post, and Reuters, which are known for their journalistic integrity and fact-checking standards.

While the claim specifies that two individuals were killed, it is important to note that three people died as a result of the shooting, including the infant. This discrepancy may arise from the phrasing of the claim, which could imply that only two fatalities occurred. However, the overall context of the shooting is accurately represented in the sources, confirming that the shooter was responsible for three deaths, not two (AP News, New York Post).

The reliability of the sources is high, as they are established news organizations that adhere to journalistic standards. They have reported on the incident with corroborating details, including witness accounts and official statements from law enforcement, which further supports the validity of the claim.

Conclusion

The claim that a 16-year-old gunman opened fire during a carnival argument, killing two others, is True. While the claim may understate the total number of fatalities, the core details of the incident are accurate, including the involvement of a 16-year-old shooter and the tragic loss of life, which included an infant. The evidence from multiple credible sources confirms the occurrence of this violent event.

Fact Check: 16-year-old gunman opens fire during carnival argument, killing two others.