Utah Football Family Shares Condolences For Teen Victims Of WVC Shooting
Jan 14, 2022, 11:51 AM
Police investigate a shooting in West Valley City, near Hunter High School along 4100 South at Mountain View Corridor, on Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022. (Spenser Heaps, Deseret News)
(Spenser Heaps, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Football program shared their condolences to the families and friends of the teen victims in the West Valley City shooting on Thursday.
In complete disbelief and anguish, a crowd gathered Thursday night where a shooting killed two teens and wounded another.
Some exchanged hugs as others wiped away tears. They stood facing a chain-link fence, where 15-year-old Paul Tahi and 14-year-old Tivani Lopati were shot and killed earlier in the day.
The Granite School District identified 15-year old Ephraim Asiata as also being shot in the altercation, but he survived. Ephraim is the son of former Utah Utes running back Matt Asiata.
Hunter High School students and their coaches told KSL TV that Paul and Tivani were freshman football players with so much to look forward to.
“Our hearts break for the families of Paul Tahi and Tivani Lopati,” Utah football tweeted. “We send all our love and support in this incredibly difficult time. We are asking for everyone to join us and our community in praying for Ephraim Asiata and his family.”
Our hearts break for the families of Paul Tahi and Tivani Lopati. We send all our love and support in this incredibly difficult time.
We are asking for everyone to join us and our community in praying for Ephraim Asiata and his family. #EphraimStrong
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) January 14, 2022
Others around the Utah football community shared their condolences on social media.
Polynesian Community in Utah, we have got to come together and really love our sons and daughters and teach them unity! I truly love our community and love Utah. It’s time to live up to our potential and make a difference! ❤️
— Paul Solomua Toala (@paultoala65) January 13, 2022
Sending love and support in this incredibly difficult time to the families Paul Tahi and Tivani Lopati.
Everyone please please pray for Ephraim Asiata and his family. #EphraimStrong
— Coach Kiel McDonald (@Coach_KMcDonald) January 14, 2022
Trevor Allen is a Utah Utes Insider for sports.ksl.com, Co-Host of Faith, Family and Football podcast with Clark Phillips III and host of the Crimson Corner podcast. Follow him on Twitter: @TrevorASports.
