Two men were killed in a hotel shooting that began as a dispute over payment for sex work. In the early hours of April 15, 2025, 36-year-old Sofeni Heimuli and 40-year-old Phillip Kioa were shot inside the Comfort Inn Downtown in Salt Lake City after arriving in response to a woman’s call for security. The disagreement originated in a different hotel room, where a renter and a woman named Kendra Mitchell had argued. Mitchell allegedly arranged for Heimuli and Kioa to come to the scene.

Police say the two men, wearing ski masks, forced entry into the renter’s room, pistol-whipped and assaulted him, and took his wallet and car keys. The renter reportedly feared for his life, picked up a gun he saw on the floor and fired; both Heimuli and Kioa died at the scene. Four people were arrested in connection with the attempted robbery: Tiffani Marie Papach and Kendra Diane Mitchell face aggravated robbery and aggravated burglary charges, with Papach also charged with obstruction, while Kevin Leroy Thrower and Christopher Michael Herschberg were charged with obstruction for allegedly misleading investigators.

Authorities have identified the shooter but have not released his name, and the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office is examining whether the shooting was legally justifiable self-defense under Utah law. Does anyone have information about events at the Comfort Inn that night or about those involved?