SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — A tragic incident that left University of Utah football player Aaron Lowe dead has reached a somber conclusion as his killer was sentenced potentially to life in prison in Third District Court on Monday.
Buk Mawut Buk admitted to the murder of Lowe, which occurred on September 26, 2021, in addition to the attempted murder of a woman during a house party in Salt Lake City. At the sentencing, Buk expressed remorse for his actions, apologizing to the Lowe family and acknowledging his past mistakes.
Judge Paul Parker handed down two consecutive sentences to Buk: one for 15 years to life for Lowe’s murder and the other for 3 years to life for the attempted murder of the woman. The judge described the acts as irreparable, expressing the difficulty in finding solutions to such senseless violence.
Before his guilty plea, Buk faced charges related to the shootings that followed an altercation at the party where Lowe and the woman were attacked. Despite the tragic outcome, Lowe’s parents offered heartfelt victim impact statements during the proceedings.
Lowe’s father shared the pain of losing his son, acknowledging the forgiveness he extended to Buk on the night of the incident. On the other hand, Lowe’s mother expressed profound grief and struggle with forgiveness, revealing the deep wounds left by her son’s untimely death.
The courtroom was briefly disrupted by a family member of Buk’s before sentencing, leading to a short recess as the individual was escorted out. The incident serves as a heartbreaking chapter following the passing of Ty Jordan, another Utes teammate and friend of Lowe’s, less than a year earlier.