2 Dead, 6 Wounded in Shooting Outside Salt Lake City Funeral

Two people were killed and at least six others wounded Wednesday evening after gunfire erupted outside a funeral at a Latter-Day Saint meetinghouse in Salt Lake City, authorities said, in an attack that has shaken the local community and prompted a large-scale manhunt.

The shooting occurred shortly after 7:30 p.m. outside a chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on North Redwood Road, where a memorial service was underway. According to police, an altercation broke out in the parking lot during the funeral, escalating rapidly into gunfire.

Salt Lake City Police Department spokesperson Glen Mills said two adults were pronounced dead at the scene. Of the six people injured, three were listed in critical condition, while the conditions of the remaining three were initially unclear after they were transported to hospitals in private vehicles. All of the victims were adults, and all were shot outside the church building.

Brian Redd, the city’s police chief, said investigators were still working to determine whether one or multiple shooters were involved. As of late Wednesday night, no suspects were in custody. Police believe the suspect or suspects fled north along Redwood Road immediately after the shooting.

Redd emphasized that authorities do not believe the attack was directed at the LDS faith itself, nor was it a random act of violence. Surveillance footage from nearby businesses and license plate reader data from surrounding streets are being reviewed, and multiple witnesses were detained for questioning before being released.

Erin Mendenhall condemned the shooting during a late-night press conference near the scene. “This should never have happened,” she said. “Not outside a place of worship, and not at a celebration of life.” She vowed that investigators would pursue the perpetrators relentlessly.

The meetinghouse serves two congregations that are primarily Tongan, part of Utah’s sizable Pacific Islander community. Community leaders said many of those attending the memorial were members of that close-knit community, deepening the sense of shock and grief. Susi Feltch-Malohifo’ou, a prominent Pacific Islander community leader, said she knew several of the victims and described the shooting as “a tragedy in our community.”

In a statement, the LDS Church said it was aware of the “serious incident” outside the meetinghouse and was cooperating fully with law enforcement. “We extend prayers for all who have been impacted by this tragedy,” the statement read, adding that violence has no place near spaces intended for worship.

Redwood Road remained closed for several hours as investigators processed the scene. Police urged anyone with information to contact authorities as the investigation continued into Thursday morning.