In the early hours of September 26, 2021, the life of Aaron Lowe, a 21-year-old Black male and a promising University of Utah football player, was tragically cut short. The night began as a celebration, a house party in the Sugar House neighborhood of Salt Lake City, just hours after the Utes had secured a victory over Washington State. However, the atmosphere soured when uninvited guests arrived and began causing trouble.
Lowe and a 20-year-old female friend, Fuamoli Pomale, decided to
leave the party on South Broadmoor Street. As they tried to depart, they found their vehicle blocked by another car. An argument broke out with the uninvited guests who refused to move. During the confrontation, a man later identified as 22-year-old Buk M. Buk retrieved a pistol from another person's bag. Witnesses reported that Buk then fired multiple shots at Lowe and Pomale, who both fell to the ground. In a chilling act, Buk walked over to the fallen victims and fired several more rounds, in what one of the victims would later describe as an attempt to "finish them off". Aaron Lowe was pronounced dead at the scene, while his companion was rushed to the hospital in critical condition, having sustained severe injuries that required extensive surgery.
The Salt Lake City Police Department launched an intensive, week-long investigation. Detectives conducted numerous interviews and executed search warrants, following up on tips from the community. Their efforts led them to Buk M. Buk, who was located and arrested in Draper, Utah, on October 3, 2021. Buk, who had a violent criminal history, was subsequently charged with aggravated murder, attempted murder, and felony discharge of a firearm. Police officials stated the shooting was not a targeted attack against the university or Lowe, nor was it gang-related.
In March 2024, Buk Mawut Buk, then 25, pleaded guilty to murder and attempted murder as part of a plea deal. On April 29, 2024, he was sentenced for what the judge described as a "cowardly act." Buk received a prison sentence of a minimum of 18 years to life. The judge ordered that this sentence be served consecutively, meaning it would only begin after he completes prison sentences he is already serving for other crimes. The conviction brought a measure of justice to the family of Aaron Lowe, a young man remembered as a beloved son, brother, and teammate.
