Man accused of killing Aaron Lowe charged with aggravated murder
Oct 13, 2021, 7:56 PM | Updated: Oct 14, 2021, 8:01 am
SALT LAKE CITY — A 22-year-old man could face the death penalty in the shooting that killed University of Utah Football Player Aaron Lowe and critically injured another woman.
District Attorney Sim Gill said prosecutors are confident in aggravated and attempted aggravated murder charges against Buk M. Buk.
“We feel very comfortable that Buk Buk is the person who had the weapon, who allegedly fired that at two individuals killing one almost killing another one and we have multiple witnesses… and other evidence that connects him to that,” said Gill.
Buk was identified as the suspect in the house party shooting that killed University of Utah football player Aaron Lowe and critically injured a second victim identified today as Fuamoli Pomale.
Family members previously told KSL TV the second victim is Lowe’s girlfriend.
Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill declined to speak on a possible motive, but said multiple people witnessed a verbal altercation between Lowe and a group of four males near Lowe’s car.
According to charging documents, Pomale told detectives Lowe, “had been trying to move his vehicle. A group of four males would not move out of the way.”
In charging documents, a witness said they stepped in with Pomale to “deescalate the conflict.”
“The witness approached and saw that Lowe was arguing with a group of males, at least one of whom was familiar to the witness. The witness and Pomale tried to deescalate the conflict between and males,” charging document said.
Meanwhile, across the street, two other witnesses saw Buk walk up to the garage and a man identified only as “I.C.” The witnesses say Buk took a handgun out of I.C.’s sling bag and walked back across the street where he opened fire.
“We have an individual who we’ve identified who went to those two individuals and shot them, and then shot them again,” Gill said.
Pomale, the surviving victim, told detectives the shooter came to “finish them off” after she and Lowe fell to the ground.
Pomale was shot in the neck and chest and four bullets were recovered from Lowe’s body during the autopsy. It’s why Gill says he’s confident in filing enhanced murder charges.
Police have not found the gun used in the shooting, according to charging documents.
“He tried to allegedly kill multiple people. The fact that he was also convicted of a violent felony previously and just given the nature of the incident, we feel very comfortable with the aggravated murder allegation,” Gill said.
Buk is also charged with use of a firearm by a restricted person and obstruction of justice — both second-degree felonies.
As for the murder charges, Gill said they have 60 days after the preliminary hearing to determine whether they will pursue the charges.
Gill declined to comment on the possibility of further arrests in the case.
