On the evening of May 28, 2016, a dispute at a West Valley City intersection ended the life of Maluolefale Toala, a 30-year-old male. Toala was riding his longboard when he became involved in an altercation with a passenger in a pickup truck. The argument escalated, and the passenger, Aaron Pierce, exited the vehicle and shot Toala in the chest. Maluolefale Toala died at the scene from the gunshot wound.
Pierce, who was 24 years old at the time, was taken into custody at the scene and
was later charged with criminal homicide. The incident was described by authorities as an apparent road rage encounter. Loved ones remembered Toala as a man with a big heart who loved music, movies, and spending time with his family. An obituary described him as a "baby brother, the favorite uncle, a loving cousin, and a best friend to all that knew him." In December 2018, Aaron Pierce was sentenced to prison for the murder of Maluolefale Toala.
