PUBLIC RELATIONS UNIT

MARCH 23, 2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact Information: PolicePRUnit@slcgov.com

Media Request Form: https://slcpd.com/mediarequest/

SLCPD Gang, VCAT, Homicide Detectives Arrest Downtown Murder Suspect

SALT LAKE CITY — Today, the Salt Lake City Police Department announced the arrest of 23-year-old Molitoni Vainuku for the June 4, 2023, shooting death of 22-year-old Halapain Moala at the New Yorker nightclub in downtown.

“This arrest comes after a lengthy investigation,” said Salt Lake City Police Chief Mike Brown. “It marks a significant accomplishment of our Gang Unit and Homicide Squad and will certainly advance public safety in our city. The web of violence connected to this one case kept people in our community living in fear of retaliation. I hope that fear is now broken.”

This investigation started on Sunday, June 4, 2023, when SLC911 received multiple calls about a shooting at 60 West Market Street.

The first SLCPD officer arrived within a minute of the 9-1-1 call and found Moala on the ground in a nearby parking lot.

Moala died on scene.

Since the shooting, the SLCPD’s Gang Unit worked closely with the SLCPD’s Homicide Squad to identify the shooter in this case. Detectives reassured community members that witness intimidation or witness tampering would not be tolerated. The SLCPD also launched crime suppression patrols in downtown and began a criminal investigation into the now-closed New Yorker nightclub.

On Friday, March 22, 2024, detectives assigned to the Salt Lake City Police Department’s Gang Unit received information about Vainuku’s in West Valley City. Detectives knew Vainuku likely had access to firearms. As such, the SLCPD Gang Unit coordinated with the SLCPD’s Violent Criminal Apprehension Team (VCAT) and SWAT Team.

While SLCPD coordinated tactical resources in West Valley City, Vainuku left his home and got into a car. VCAT detectives quickly and safely took him into custody. At the time of his arrest, detectives located a firearm.

Detectives booked Vainuku into the Salt Lake County Metro Jail on a single count of murder.

Charges are only allegations, and every arrested person is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The Salt Lake City Police Department is not the custodian of record for jail booking photos. Utah Code 17-22-30 mostly prohibits the release of jail booking photos. Generally, a jail booking photo can only be released by the custodian of record after a conviction or when law enforcement determines the person is a fugitive or an imminent threat to a person or public safety. In Salt Lake City, the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office is the custodian of record for jail booking photos.

The Salt Lake City Police Department’s Gang Unit is responsible for investigating gang-related crimes that occur within the city’s jurisdiction. The unit consists of highly trained uniformed officers and detectives who work collaboratively with patrol divisions and other specialty squads within the SLCPD to gather information and focus on preventing gang and gun violence through education, prevention, and enforcement.

The SLCPD Violent Criminal Apprehension Team (VCAT) is a specialty unit within the department responsible for combating violent crime, by identifying and apprehending violent criminals and fugitives. This unit works under the SLCPD Special Operations Division but also works closely with the Investigations, Patrol and Data and Research divisions to identify and direct targeted enforcement of hot spot areas and areas of rising violent crime.

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