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ST. GEORGE — Bronson Joseph Flynn, 26, was sentenced to prison after a jury found him guilty of murder in the shooting death of 34-year-old Spencer Maluafiti Tafua at the One and Only bar in 2018.
Flynn was found guilty on all seven charges before a packed St. George District courtroom on the evening of March 5, when the jury foreman read “guilty” following each of the seven charges filed by the state, including first-degree murder, two counts of aggravated assault, using a dangerous weapon during a fight, carrying a dangerous weapon while under the influence, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving under the influence.
The investigation involved an incident reported shortly after 1 a.m. on Dec. 29, 2018 when police responded to the bar on reports of gunfire and an individual brandishing a gun.
The shooting was reportedly a result of a dispute between bar patrons that started in an area in front of the bar. The shooting itself happened outside the establishment in front of an adjacent business, killing 34-year-old Spencer Maluafiti Tafua.
During sentencing, Prosecutor Jerry Jaeger said there were several members of Tafua’s family who would like to make a victim impact statement before the court. For the next two hours, the court heard from a dozen of Tafua’s relatives, including Lawrence Tafua, who told the court that Spencer Tafua was his youngest brother and was a good father and a caring family man.
