3 charged in shooting death of bystander

SALT LAKE CITY — Three people were charged Friday in connection with the shooting death of a 21-year-old woman killed in a case of mistaken identity.

George Blake Angilau, 20; Alexander Bloomfield, 29; and Pailate Lomu, 20, were charged in 3rd District Court with murder and aggravated burglary, both first-degree felonies.

The three are charged in connection with the July 19, 2009, shooting of Krystal Flores. She remained in a coma for two weeks before she was taken off life support and died Aug. 2 of that year.

Also linked to the incident was Bloomfield's girlfriend, Shannon Moala, 32, who was charged last week with obstruction of justice.

Flores was at a party at 1309 Stewart St. when Lomu and Bloomfield "kicked open the door and entered the residence," according to the charges. Lomu was carrying a handgun, and Bloomfield had a rifle, prosecutors say.

"Witnesses also stated that Krystal Flores was shot by the man with the rifle," the charges state.

Police had said previously that Flores was lying on a couch when she was shot in the back of the head. They believe the incident was gang-related, but Flores, who was not a gang member, was shot in a case of mistaken identity.

After Flores was shot, the two men left the house. A short time later, a 23-year-old man was shot in his driveway at 1457 W. 1300 South. He survived.

Prosecutors say Angilau and Lomu drove to Stewart Street to meet up with Moala, Bloomfield and another man, Nick Fonau, "to retaliate for a prior shooting against" Lomu, the charges state. While acting as a lookout, Angilau allegedly fired at a rival gang member.

Bloomfield and Moala were in a car waiting for the others on Stewart Street. Moala was in the front passenger seat, prosecutors say. Moala was interviewed by police in 2009 shortly after the shooting but claimed to have no knowledge of the homicide. Late last month, she was interviewed again and admitted that she had heard gunshots, and "Bloomfield told her not to say anything to the cops," the charges state.

"She told detectives she knew this information a year ago and chose not to tell detectives the truth," investigators wrote in the charges. "(Moala) said she intended to leave the state."

Moala and Lomu were arrested July 29. Angilau was arrested Friday. Bloomfield was already in prison Friday on an unrelated case.

e-mail: preavy@desnews.com