A stray bullet fired Saturday night in what police say was a gang-related confrontation struck a woman in the face while she was bathing, and the target, a 21-year-old West Valley man attending a birthday party, died from a gunshot wound to the head.
Salt Lake police say the woman, who was taken to the hospital, is expected to survive. Her identity was not released.
The shooting happened at 9 p.m. as close to a hundred people gathered for a birthday celebration at a house on 900 South and 1500 West. One of the guests was identified by a family member as Solomone Tuifua, 21, of West Valley City.
Tuifua's cousin, Adelaide Fonua, said he was on the porch of a home when an SUV pulled up and several men got out. An altercation ensued, and Tuifua was then called over to the vehicle. As he neared the road, one of the men fired a couple of shots, one of which struck Tuifua in the head. The other round hit a woman in a nearby house as she was bathing, said Salt Lake Police Lt. Fred Louis.
The shootings left the one-time celebrants in chaos as many of them milled a few feet away from yellow police tape, crying and consoling each other with hugs.
Multiple Salt Lake police officers responded to the shooting, blocked off the street and interviewed witnesses to get information on the shooters. Louis said a handgun was used, and early reports indicate the victim and the shooters have gang ties.
"We have our gang units out. ... We want to get these men off the streets as soon as possible," Louis said.
Fonua said her cousin was due to get married in May. He and his would-be bride are expecting a child.
She said she didn't know what prompted the altercation but insisted Tuifua was a good kid who was "trying to settle down."
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