A memorial service in Salt Lake City turned into a horrific scene Wednesday night after gunfire erupted outside a church, leaving two people dead and several others wounded.
The Salt Lake City Police Department confirmed on Facebook that officers responded to a shooting at 660 N. Redwood Road on Wednesday, Jan. 7. Police said two victims were killed and at least six others were injured in the violence.
Authorities added that at least three of the injured victims are in critical condition. The status of several others remains unclear after they were transported to hospitals in private vehicles, according to SLCPD spokesperson Glen Mills, speaking to The Salt Lake Tribune.
Police said the suspects were still at large as of Wednesday night, but investigators believe they are closing in. “The suspects are still outstanding, but our officers have obtained solid leads and are working to locate those involved,” the department said in a statement.
According to ABC4 Utah, the shooting happened around 7:30 p.m. local time in the parking lot of a meetinghouse belonging to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints while a funeral was taking place inside. Shots were reportedly fired after an altercation broke out outside the church.
Salt Lake City Police Chief Brian Redd said authorities do not believe the violence was motivated by religion.
“We don’t believe this was a targeted attack against a religion or anything like that,” Redd said, according to the Associated Press. He added that detectives have spoken with dozens of people who attended the memorial and confirmed that all victims involved were adults.
The church reportedly serves a largely Tongan congregation, with services typically conducted in the Tongan language.
In a statement following the shooting, church spokesperson Sam Penrod said the organization was cooperating fully with authorities.
“We are aware of a serious incident that occurred outside a Church meetinghouse at 660 North Redwood Road in Salt Lake City tonight as a memorial service was being held in the chapel,” Penrod said, according to ABC4 Utah. “The Church is cooperating with law enforcement and is grateful for the efforts of first responders.”
He added, “We extend prayers for all who have been impacted by this tragedy and express deep concern that any sacred space intended for worship should be subjected to violence of any kind.”
Utah Sen. Mike Lee also reacted to the shooting, urging the public to keep the victims in their thoughts.
“Join me in praying for the victims of such senseless violence and all the families of this church,” Lee wrote on X. He also encouraged anyone with information to contact law enforcement.
The investigation remains ongoing as police work to identify and arrest those responsible.
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Still another Democrat junkie just doing their ‘thing’?
Tongans are a Polynesian people, the indigenous inhabitants of the Kingdom of Tonga in the South Pacific, known for their strong community ties, deep Christian faith (especially Methodist), and unique social structure with nobility,… with Tongan and English as official languages… -A.I.