An investigation is underway after a man was shot dead at a wedding in Utah.
Oscar Avila, 38, had been attending a family wedding at The Ganesh Center in Midvale on Saturday when some uninvited guests showed up, according to KSL-TV.
Unified Police Sgt. Melody Cutler told the outlet that later in the evening, Avila got into a fight in the venue’s parking lot with some of the uninvited guests.
Officers responded to a shooting at the venue, located at 145 East Fort Union Boulevard, at around 11.30 p.m., according to a news release from the police department.
On arrival, they found Avila bleeding on the ground. Despite life-saving efforts by both wedding guests and police officers, the Midvale resident was declared dead.
According to local news media, investigators believe the shooting may be gang-related.
Cutler told KSL-TV that the wedding party was so big that officers from several law enforcement agencies were called to assist with crowd control after the fatal shooting.
Stock photo. A Utah man was shot dead after a fight with uninvited guests outside a wedding venue in Utah.
iStock
No arrests had been made in connection with the shooting as of Monday, but police are reportedly following “good leads” to track down those responsible.
On Monday, they continued to interview people who were at the wedding.
Police have not released the name of a suspect or provided a description, but have urged anyone with information to come forward.
“Any little piece of evidence, no matter if you think it is irrelevant or maybe not exactly it, it can add a piece to the puzzle that helps us solve this,” Cutler said.
According to a GoFundMe page set up to raise funds to cover funeral expenses, Avila was a father of five and suffering from a terminal illness.
He was “a loving Son, Brother & Father,” his sister Maria Avila wrote on the page, adding that the shooting occurred on the night of their parents’ wedding.
“He leaves behind 5 children who he loved dearly. He was terminally Ill and was in and out of dialysis while trying to spend as much time with his family and kids as possible. He was a funny, grumpy person but was a great friend when you needed one and would help anyone if he was able too. He was loyal, honesty & was was a good man but over all great father.”
Maria Avila and Unified Police have been contacted for additional comment.
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the police department at 801-840-4000.
