Tragic Loss at Utah Festival
Anderson Garcia hadn’t planned on taking his family to the Westfest celebration in West Valley City, Utah, on Sunday night. He was surprised to even find the fair happening there.
“I didn’t know the fair was there,” he shared. Garcia explained that he had gone to Walmart, and when his baby started crying, he noticed the festival to his side.
“For three years I struggled with infertility and finally had two boys. My baby was a very happy baby.”
Sunday marked the final day of Westfest, a vibrant four-day event that features food, music, and carnival rides, situated about 20 minutes southwest of Salt Lake City.
Garcia mentioned that they were almost ready to leave but paused to watch a ride when gunshots rang out. “I told my wife, ‘Run, that’s a gunshot, run,’ and I used my body to cover the boy,” he recounted. “I thought I was hit more than my kids.”
Tragically, his eight-month-old son, Anderson Garcia Cabrera Jr., lost his life in the shooting.
A 16-year-old boy reportedly fired shots during a confrontation between two groups at the festival. Others injured included 18-year-old Hassan Lugundy, who was fatally shot, and a 41-year-old female bystander named Fnu Reena.
Garcia’s wife, Mehili Cabrera, expressed her heartbreak over the loss. She explained that Baby Anderson was a twin, and the family had fought hard to have him. “I’m breaking my heart and soul,” she said, reflecting on the joy their son brought to their lives.
The family has launched a GoFundMe to help return their baby to Guatemala for burial, stating, “What was meant to be a fun Father’s Day celebration has turned into the most heartbreaking night of our lives.”
They believe that resting in Guatemala, surrounded by loved ones, would bring peace to their son. “He was a happy baby. I’ve never seen anyone like him,” Garcia shared, emphasizing his desire to honor his roots.
As of late Tuesday, nearly $54,000 had been raised toward their $100,000 goal.
Injuries and Arrests
Police reported that two teenagers, a 17-year-old girl and a 15-year-old boy, were also injured during the shooting. Investigators are still determining if they were connected to the altercation.
The suspected shooter, the 16-year-old male, has been taken into custody for questioning.
Salt Lake County District Attorney Simgill noted that it’s too early to decide whether to charge the teenager as a juvenile or as an adult. “We have not screened the case yet,” he mentioned, stressing that decisions will be made at the time of filing.
One nearby business employee expressed disbelief over the incident. “It’s a bad thing about what happened,” they added, recognizing it as unusual for the area.
Another witness conveyed their trauma from the event, stating they would likely avoid similar situations in the future.
“It’s heartbreaking. It’s something we really enjoy in our community, and seeing this happen… it’s just difficult,” said a police department spokesperson.
