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Two people were killed and several others wounded after gunfire erupted outside a church venue in Salt Lake City during a funeral service, prompting a police manhunt and renewed concerns over public safety.
Two people were killed and several others were injured in a shooting incident outside a church in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Wednesday evening.
The incident, as reported by the Associated Press, occurred in the parking lot of a meetinghouse of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—a place often central to community gatherings—while a funeral service was underway inside, according to police.
Police say the situation was still developing, and investigators are trying to piece together exactly what led to the violence. “Out in the parking lot, there was some sort of altercation and that’s when shots were fired,” Salt Lake City Police Department spokesperson Glen Mills told reporters, adding that the funeral was ongoing at the time.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS ADWho were the victims?Officials confirmed that among at least eight adults who were injured, two died from their injuries. Several survivors were rushed to nearby hospitals, with at least three in critical condition and the medical status of the others unclear as of early Thursday.
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Police said they were actively searching for the suspect or suspects involved, interviewing witnesses and reviewing surveillance footage from the scene. The FBI has also offered assistance to local law enforcement as part of the investigation. “We don’t believe this was a targeted attack against a religion or anything like that,” a police officer added during a later press briefing.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, informally known as the Mormon church, expressed concern over the violence occurring outside its meetinghouse. In a statement, church officials said they were cooperating fully with law enforcement. “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,” they said.