This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2010, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
A judge ordered a 32-year-old woman to stand trial Wednesday for allegedly lying to police about her knowledge of the 2009 mistaken-identity murder of 21-year-old Krystal Flores.
Shannon Moala, 32, will go to trial on one count of obstruction of justice, a second-degree felony, following Wednesday's preliminary hearing in 3rd District Court.
Flores was fatally shot in the early hours of July 19, 2009, when two armed men — 21-year-old Pailate K. Lomu and 30-year-old Alexander Bloomfield — allegedly kicked open the door of her Salt Lake City home.
Witnesses said Bloomfield, who was carrying a rifle, is the person who shot Flores once in the head, according to charging documents.
A third man, George B. Angilau, 20, allegedly fired a shot at a rival gang member while acting as a lookout outside the home.
Police have said the men went to the wrong house seeking revenge for a prior gang-related shooting.
The men apparently were using a car belonging to Moala, who is Bloomfield's girlfriend.
However, during an August 2009 interview with police, Moala claimed she had no knowledge of the shooting, according to charges. She also said she did not believe her vehicle was involved, but added she did not have the keys to the vehicle that day.
But during a second police interview in July, Moala admitted having first-hand knowledge of the shooting, according to charges.
She said she was a front-seat passenger in her vehicle when Bloomfield drove it to the homicide scene, charges state. She also said she heard gunshots and then left the scene with Bloomfield, who later told her "not to say anything to the cops, so she did not," charges state. Moala also told police that three other males were at the scene.
Moala is to be arraigned Sept. 27 before 3rd District Judge Randall Skanchy.