Salt Lake City, the capital of Utah, was rocked by a shooting incident on Wednesday evening, leaving two dead and six injured, with three in critical condition. The tragic event unfolded in the parking lot of a Mormon church, known formally as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, during a funeral service. Local authorities have disclosed that the incident took place shortly after 7:30 pm on North Redwood Road in the western side of the city.
According to the police, the church was hosting a funeral at the time when a conflict erupted in the parking lot, leading to the sound of gunshots echoing through the area. Glen Mills, a public information officer from the Salt Lake City Police Department, confirmed the sequence of events, stating, “There was a funeral taking place at the church. There was some type of conflict that occurred in the parking lot, and then shots were fired.”
The shooting resulted in at least eight adults being shot, with two fatalities and three individuals in critical condition among the wounded. Despite the occurrence transpiring at a place of worship, Police Chief Brian Redd emphasized that they do not believe the incident specifically targeted a particular religion. Chief Redd conveyed to reporters, “We do not believe this was a random act of violence.”
In response to the situation, a significant number of law enforcement personnel were dispatched to the scene, around 100 police vehicles surrounded the church, and helicopters hovered above conducting search operations. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has also extended their assistance in the investigation.
Mayor Erin Mendenhall of Salt Lake City later issued a statement denouncing the violence, stating, “This should never happen outside of a place of worship, and certainly not at a celebration of life.”
As the authorities continue their investigation, the number of suspects involved in the shooting remains unclear. The Salt Lake City Police Department also posted on social media platform X, “The suspect is still at large, but our officers have solid leads and are actively pursuing those involved.”