SALT LAKE CITY — An 18-year-old man has been charged with hate crimes after prosecutors say he repeatedly threatened a former classmate online and in messages because of the man’s sexual orientation.
Allegations and charges
Authorities allege that Damyen Vainuku targeted a man he attended high school with, sending repeated messages and attempting to follow the man on social media despite requests to be left alone. The man told investigators he asked Vainuku to stop contact "multiple times," according to the indictment.
The charges include counts of threat of violence and harassment. Prosecutors say the incidents escalated after an attempt by Vainuku to add the victim on Snapchat on Aug. 20, when the accused began threatening to kill the man and members of his family, and reportedly said he "couldn't wait to kill a gay person." Police say that when Vainuku was taken into custody on Aug. 25, he admitted to sending images of firearms and to threatening to shoot the victim and his family in the head.
Hate crime enhancement
Salt Lake County Attorney Sim Gill added enhanced penalties by charging the case as a hate crime because prosecutors allege the threats were motivated by the victim’s sexual orientation and gender identity. In a public statement, Gill condemned the behaviour as dangerous to the community.
"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 Gill.
Evidence and investigative steps
The indictment references social-media contact and messages that included images of guns and specific threats of lethal violence. Vainuku’s admission to detectives after his arrest is cited in charging documents as part of the evidence supporting the prosecution’s case.
- Accused: Damyen Vainuku, 18
- Alleged offences: Threat of violence, harassment; hate crime enhancement applied
- Key dates: Aug. 20 (reported Snapchat contact), Aug. 25 (arrest)
Context and consequences
Hate-crime designations add criminal penalties when investigators and prosecutors determine an offence was committed because of a victim's protected characteristic. The use of a hate-crime enhancement in this case signals that prosecutors believe the accused targeted the alleged victim on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity — an element that can affect sentencing if there is a conviction.
The case also highlights ongoing concerns around threats and harassment carried out through social-media platforms. Law enforcement agencies and prosecutors across North America have increasingly cited online messaging as a vector for threatening behaviour, and courts are being asked to weigh virtual threats alongside more traditional forms of stalking and intimidation.
Next steps
Vainuku faces the charges contained in the indictment while the criminal process moves forward. The Salt Lake County Attorney’s office will pursue the case with the benefit of the accused’s post-arrest statements and the digital communications cited in court documents. No sentence has been imposed, and defendants are presumed innocent unless found guilty in a court of law.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Accused | Damyen Vainuku, 18 |
| Allegations | Threats to kill victim and family; harassment; sending images of guns |
| Prosecutor | Salt Lake County Attorney Sim Gill (hate-crime enhancement applied) |
Authorities have not released further details about any pretrial proceedings or a scheduled court appearance. The county attorney’s office and local law enforcement did not provide additional comment beyond the charging information and Gill’s statement.
The charges underscore the legal and social scrutiny surrounding threats motivated by identity, and the case will proceed through Utah’s criminal justice system where the hate-crime designation will be a central issue for prosecutors to prove.
