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SALT LAKE CITY — A West Valley man was sentenced to prison Monday for shooting and killing a man at a Salt Lake nightclub in 2023.
Molitoni Fisiki Vainuku, 24, pleaded guilty to murder, a first-degree felony, admitting in a plea statement to intentionally killing Halapaini Latu Moala, 22.
Third District Judge James Blanch sentenced him to 15 years to life in prison. He also ordered Vainuku to pay $7,000 to the victim's family through the Utah Office for Victims of Crime.
Moala was at an after-party at the New Yorker Social Club on June 4, 2023, when one of his friends pointed out that Vainuku and others were staring at him. As Moala and his friends headed to the parking lot when the club was closing around 4 a.m., Vainuku commented to him, according to a statement from prosecutors.
"Mr. Moala and his friend looked at each other like, 'Wait, what did he say?' When they looked back at (Vainuku), he said, 'Are you tripping? Are you tripping?' (Vainuku) then pulled out a gun and shot Mr. Moala," the statement said.
Vainuku then fled the scene. He was not arrested until March 2024.
Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill said Vainuku is a risk to the community and belongs behind bars.
"This senseless act of violence is hard to comprehend," Gill said in a statement. "We understand that Mr. Moala played a big part in the lives of his family members, and they have suffered an immense loss since his death. We hope they see this conviction and sentence as justice being served."
He thanked prosecutors and detectives for their work on the case, calling the outcome "successful."
