Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
WEST VALLEY CITY — The teenager shot near Hunter High School in January has been released from the hospital.
Ephraim Asiata was one of three teenagers shot in West Valley City earlier this year. The 15-year-old was critically injured, but he's home now after being in the hospital for almost a month.
Asiata's uncle, Muka Atiga, said he was originally given a 1% chance of survival.
"Literally that's all he needed. He's proven that," Atiga said, as Asiated was moved from intensive care in January.
A post on a family Instagram feed shows the teenager visiting the sidewalk memorial honoring his friends, the two teenagers that died in the shooting.
The two other Hunter High School students that died in the shooting on Jan. 13 were Paul Tahi, age 15, and Tivani Lopati, age 14. Police documents show they were among a group of people that were involved in a verbal confrontation outside of Hunter High.
The verbal confrontation escalated into a physical confrontation before the deadly shootings.
Feel So GOOD TO BE HOME!!! God got me so I ain't worried…LESSS RIDE Mom & Dad 😤
— Ephraim Asiata (@AsiataEphraim44) February 9, 2022
A 14-year-old suspect is under arrest in juvenile detention for the shootings. However, on Jan. 19 prosecutors said they intend to try the case in adult court.
Contributing: Simone Seikaly
