A shooting at a Salt Lake City Mormon church came after a dispute between attendees of a funeral at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who knew each other, police said.
The shooting left two people dead and injured six. Five of the injured remain hospitalized, and no arrests have been made.
Authorities have said they are unsure if the shooting is gang-related, and they are having trouble getting witnesses to cooperate with the investigation.
“We are looking into the reason and cause for the gunfire,” Salt Lake City Police Chief Brian Redd said Thursday morning. The shooting was not random or based on opposition to the Mormon faith, police said.
Two witnesses of the attack said they heard the gunshots from their apartment next to the church and ran outside to see what had happened. “As soon as I came over, I see someone on the ground,” Brennan McIntire said. “People are attending to him and crying and arguing.”
His wife, Kenna, said she also came upon a woman being lifted into an ambulance. The pair said they often hear gunshots but never that close. “It was really heartbreaking to hear and see,” she said.
The two deceased victims are Vaea Tulikihihifo, 46, and Sione Vatuvei, 38. All of the victims are adults.
The church mostly serves Tongan congregants and holds regular services in their native language. The establishment has expressed gratitude for law enforcement’s 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 spokesman Sam Penrod said.
Police are checking license plate readers and surveillance videos from nearby businesses in their search for suspects.
TWO PEOPLE KILLED IN SHOOTING OUTSIDE MORMON CHURCH IN UTAH
Mayor Erin Mendenhall said the incident “should never have happened outside a place of worship.”
“This should never have happened outside a celebration of life,” she said.