> At a Glance
> – Gunfire erupted Wednesday night in the parking lot of a Latter-day Saints church during a memorial service
> – Two adults died; three of the six wounded remain in critical condition
> – Police say the attack was not random but not faith-motivated
> – Why it matters: Worshippers now face the second deadly church shooting targeting Mormons in a month, shaking a community that considers its sanctuaries safe
Gunshots shattered a memorial service at a red-brick Latter-day Saints church in northwest Salt Lake City, killing two adults and injuring six others in a burst of violence police say was neither random nor religiously targeted.
The Attack
Witnesses inside the Tongan-speaking congregation heard multiple shots just outside the rear lot about 9 p.m. as they honored an unidentified deceased community member. First responders arrived to find two victims dead and six others wounded, at least three in critical condition.
Salt Lake City Police Chief Brian Redd stated:
> “We don’t believe this was a targeted attack against a religion or anything like that.”
Investigators have no suspect in custody and are reviewing license-plate readers and nearby surveillance footage.
Eyewitness Shock
Brennan and Kenna McIntire, whose apartment faces the lot, described the chaos:
- Brennan ran outside in flip-flops and saw a body on the asphalt
- Kenna watched paramedics lift an unconscious woman into an ambulance while mourners sobbed
- The couple hears gunfire almost daily, but “never right outside our door”
More than 100 law-enforcement vehicles and overhead helicopters swarmed the scene as neighbors wrapped in blankets waited by a taco truck for updates.
Church Response
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints headquarters, located in the same city, said it was cooperating fully with investigators.
Church spokesperson Sam Penrod said:
> “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.”
Mayor Erin Mendenhall added:
> “This should never have happened outside a place of worship. This should never have happened outside a celebration of life.”
Broader Context
The shooting comes weeks after a former Marine killed four people and burned a Michigan Latter-day Saints chapel in an attack the FBI linked to anti-Mormon beliefs.
Roughly half of Utah’s 3.5 million residents belong to the faith, and neighborhood meetinghouses like the one attacked are common across the state.
Key Takeaways
- Police say the shooting was deliberate but not faith-based
- All victims were adults; three remain in critical condition
- The Tongan congregation had been mourning a community member
- Investigators are canvassing surveillance but have made no arrests
The violence has left worshippers grappling with the reality that even sacred spaces can become crime scenes.
