A peaceful evening turned tragic Wednesday when gunfire erupted outside a Mormon church in Salt Lake City, leaving at least two people dead and six others wounded.
The shooting unfolded just after nightfall, jolting a community already gathered in grief.
Violence in a church parking lot
Police say the shots were fired around 7:30 p.m. in the parking lot of a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints meetinghouse on Redwood Road.
The violence happened outdoors, but close enough to the building that those inside quickly realized something was terribly wrong.
A funeral gathering turns chaotic
According to local station ABC4, a funeral viewing was underway at the church when an argument reportedly broke out.
What began as a somber farewell spiraled into panic and bloodshed within moments.
A family member’s heartbreak
One grieving relative, who asked not to be identified, described the horror of stepping outside after the shots rang out.
He told ABC4 that he found several of his cousins lying on the ground, wounded by bullets.
The loss cut especially deep, he said, because the family had gathered to mourn a cousin who had died just days earlier. Now, he added, they may be facing even more funerals.
Police launch urgent manhunt
Salt Lake City Police confirmed that at least one suspect fled the scene, triggering a large-scale search.
Department spokesperson Glen Mills said officers are actively hunting for the shooter or shooters, though no descriptions of suspects or vehicles have been released.
A massive emergency response
At least 18 police units rushed to the scene as first responders worked to secure the area and treat victims.
Mills described the situation as “very fluid,” with details continuing to change as officers pieced together what happened.
Eight victims, lives hanging in the balance
Authorities say there are at least eight victims in total. Two people were pronounced dead.
Three others remain in critical condition, while the status of at least three more victims is still unclear.
Complications in tracking the injured
The response was further complicated when several victims were rushed to hospitals in private vehicles rather than ambulances, making it harder for police to quickly account for everyone involved.
Neighborhood locked down overnight
The area surrounding the church remained sealed off late into the night.
Residents were not allowed to return to their homes, with police expecting closures to last until at least 1 a.m. local time.
What’s next?
Investigators continue to search for those responsible as the community reels from yet another act of violence in a place meant for reflection and comfort.
For families already grieving, the coming days promise painful questions—and a long road toward healing.
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