In the early hours of a Tuesday morning in June, the life of Mark Fulilangi, a 31-year-old man, was tragically cut short in what police described as a drive-by shooting in West Valley City. On June 8, 2021, Fulilangi was a passenger in a vehicle at the intersection of 3300 South and 4300 West when another car approached them. The vehicle reportedly drove past slowly, then backed up and stopped.
A passenger from that car then exited and opened fire into the vehicle occupied by Fulilangi.
Following the shooting, the female driver, who was with Fulilangi, heroically switched places with him and rushed him to the Jordan Valley Medical Center West Valley with two gunshot wounds. Despite the extensive efforts of the medical staff to save his life, Mark Fulilangi succumbed to his injuries. The woman who brought him to the hospital initially left but was later located by police and provided her account of the tragic events.
In the days following the shooting, West Valley City police identified a suspect in the homicide. Twenty-six-year-old Lolo Latu was arrested and booked into the Utah County Jail on warrants that were unrelated to the shooting. Investigators submitted the case against Latu to the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office for review of potential charges in connection with Fulilangi's death.
Known to his loved ones as 'Ake', Mark Fulilangi was remembered as a loyal friend and a loving family man who was an exceptional artist. He was a father to two sons, Kyelu and Kitione. His distinctive and full laugh was something that could easily be picked out of a crowd. He had a talent for making people laugh and was known for lightening the mood with a joke.
