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Police make arrest in murder outside SLC Maverik store

Posted at 1:36 PM, Jul 24, 2013
and last updated 2013-07-24 20:25:10-04

SALT LAKE CITY -- Salt Lake City police have arrested a man in connection with a murder that happened outside a Maverik store in April.

Vilisoni Angilau, 20, was taken into custody at around 7 p.m. Tuesday. Angilau faces a first-degree felony charge of murder and a second-degree felony charge of obstruction of justice in connection with the April 13 death of 19-year-old Sione Fakatoufifita.

Fakatoufifita died of gunshot wounds sustained outside the Maverik store at 1680 S Redwood Rd.

According to a probable cause statement, Angilau and Fakatoufifita were members of rival gangs. Police said Angilau and other gang members pursued Fakatoufifita through Salt Lake City's Glendale neighborhood before the shooting incident.

Det. Cody Lougy, Salt Lake City Police Department, said cases involving gangs can be difficult to investigate.

"Homicide investigators have been working relentlessly on this case," he said. "These cases are very challenging when they're gang involved, and they've been working non-stop since the victim was located at Maverik."

Police said the case was made complicated by the fact many gangs have a code of silence, and authorities said witnesses who came forward regarding the shooting did so at great personal risk.

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Maverik shooting victim’s fiancee jailed on obstruction of justice charges

Police still looking for answers in deadly Maverik shooting