Source: AP News and ABC Two people were killed and six others injured in a shooting outside a Salt Lake City church Wednesday night while mourners were attending a memorial service inside, police said.
The shooting took place in the back parking lot of a house of worship for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the widely known Utah-based faith.
They identified the victims on Thursday as Sione Vatuvei, 38, and Vaea Tulikihihifo, 46.
Five people remain hospitalised and at least three of the injured were in critical condition, police said.
The deadly incident took place while a funeral service was being held in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints meetinghouse.
Police believe there was a dispute between people attending the funeral, which led to a possible exchange of gunfire outside the building.
Chief Brian Redd described it as a “complicated crime scene,” at one point adding that some vehicles were seen leaving the area.
Officials with the Salt Lake City Police Department said several people were detained for the investigation, but they do not believe the alleged shooters are in custody. The number of shooters is currently unknown, but they do expect there was more than one.
While several people have been detained, this does not confirm their involvement in the incident, and police said none of the detainees have been arrested.
Chief Redd said people have been “less than cooperative” during the investigation. He urged anyone with information to call Salt Lake City’s non-emergency line at 801-799-3000.
Photo Credit: Rio Giancarlo/The Deseret News via AP
The red brick church in the northwest Salt Lake City neighbourhood mostly serves Tongan congregants and holds regular worship services in their native tongue, according to its website.
“We are looking into the reason and cause for the gunfire,” Salt Lake City Police Chief Brian Redd said Thursday morning. All the shooting victims were adults. At least three of the injured were in critical condition, police said.
“Our houses of worship are sacred, whatever the affiliation,” Salt Lake City Police Chief Brian Redd said Thursday morning. “We should all protect those spaces. We should all respect those spaces.” All the shooting victims were adults. At least three of the injured were in critical condition, police said. Vaea Tulikihihifo, 46, and Sione Vatuvei, 38, were identified as the two people killed.
Police said they do not believe the shooting was random or motivated by animus against the Mormon faith.
Upon hearing gunshots, residents from a low-income housing complex next to the church flooded outside to help victims and console dozens of people who had been attending a funeral for a person whom police haven’t identified.
Brennan McIntire said he and his wife, Kenna, heard several loud gunshots from their apartment next to the church parking lot while watching TV. He jumped off the couch and ran outside in flip-flop sandals to see what happened.
“As soon as I came over, I see someone on the ground,” he said. “People are attending to him and crying and arguing.”
Kenna McIntire came outside soon after and was rattled at the sight of first responders lifting an unconscious woman into an ambulance while people huddled around and sobbed.
The couple said they hear gunshots in their neighborhood almost daily, but never right outside their door.
“It was really heartbreaking to hear and see,” she said.
About 100 law enforcement vehicles were at the scene in the aftermath, and helicopters flew overhead. Neighbors huddled in blankets next to a taco truck, watching the officers work and waiting for updates.
Police said they were reviewing license plate readers and surveillance videos from nearby businesses in their search for suspects.
“This should never have happened outside a place of worship. This should never have happened outside a celebration of life,” Mayor Erin Mendenhall said.
The church, headquartered in Salt Lake City, was cooperating with law enforcement and said it was grateful for first responders’ quick efforts.
“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,” church spokesperson Sam Penrod said.
About half of Utah’s 3.5 million residents are members of the faith. Houses of worship like the one where the shooting occurred can be found tucked into neighborhoods around the city and state.
The faith has been on heightened alert since four people were killed when a former Marine opened fire in a Michigan church in September and set it ablaze. The FBI found that he was motivated by “anti-religious beliefs” against Latter-day Saints.
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