Utah detectives say accused stalker told victim he ‘couldn’t wait to kill a gay person’

A Provo, Utah, man accused of stalking a former high school classmate and threatening to kill him and his family now faces charges carrying hate crime enhancements after allegedly saying he “couldn’t wait to kill a gay person.”

Damyen Vainuku, 18, was charged Thursday in Utah’s 3rd District Court with stalking, a second-degree felony; six counts of being a restricted person in possession of a weapon, a third-degree felony; and one count each of making a threat of violence and harassment, both class A misdemeanors, according to KSL Media. The stalking, threat and harassment charges carry “targeting” enhancements — Utah’s equivalent of a hate crime designation.

Salt Lake City police began investigating on August 21 after West High School staff received a report that Vainuku had threatened the man and his family the previous day. Police said Vainuku and the victim previously attended the school together, according to local affiliate KSTU.

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The victim told investigators that he had repeatedly asked Vainuku to leave him alone. Authorities say Vainuku nevertheless continued trying to follow him on social media through multiple accounts before allegedly sending threats and images of firearms.

“Threats of violence are unacceptable. Stalking and threats based on someone's sexual orientation or how they appear are abhorrent and make our entire community less safe,” said Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill. “Our Survivor and Victims Services team will work with (the victim) and his family to ensure they have the support they need to help process the trauma they are likely experiencing after being targeted by these alleged threats.”

Charging documents say investigators identified 13 threats involving a firearm. Vainuku also allegedly threatened to distribute intimate videos of the victim.

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After obtaining a search warrant for Vainuku’s electronic devices, detectives found multiple photographs of firearms and messages that included “Wanna make ur fam suffer then they'll learn not to be gay,” “we all know if I seen u in person you'll be begging me not to shoot u,” “Can't wait to slide to ur crib and kill ur family,” and “can't wait to kill a gay (person).”

Police said the messages were sent to the victim from multiple social media accounts, sometimes accompanied by photographs of a gun.

After police took Vainuku into custody on August 25, he admitted to sending the messages and images and threatening to shoot the victim and his family in the head, according to the charging documents. Authorities say Vainuku also acknowledged making the threats because of the victim’s “sexual orientation and gender identity.”