Dispute at Salt Lake City LDS Funeral Leads to Church Parking Lot Shooting, Killing Two and Injuring Six
A funeral dispute outside a Salt Lake City LDS meetinghouse erupted in gunfire, killing two and wounding six; investigators seek suspects still amid uncooperative witnesses.
Overview
The shooting occurred about 7:36 p.m. on Jan. 7 in the church's back parking lot, killing two adults and wounding six; several victims were critically injured and hospitalized.
Police say the violence stemmed from a dispute among funeral attendees who knew each other; investigators do not believe the attack was random or motivated by animus toward the faith.
No arrests have been made; Salt Lake City police, aided by FBI and ATF, are reviewing license-plate readers, nearby surveillance footage and following leads amid witness noncooperation.
Five victims remained hospitalized with police protection; neighbors from an adjacent low-income housing complex and funeral attendees rushed to help and console the wounded at the scene.
City leaders and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints expressed shock, urged protection of worship spaces and said the church is cooperating with authorities.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources report this incident neutrally, focusing on facts, official statements, and eyewitness accounts rather than opinion. They emphasize police uncertainty (no evidence of anti‑religious motive), victim IDs, and community reaction, while providing contextual details (Tongan congregation, historical background) to inform readers without editorializing or assigning causation.
Sources (15)
FAQ
As of the latest reports, several people have been detained for questioning, but police say the suspected shooters have not been identified or arrested, and the exact number of shooters remains unknown.
Investigators say the shooting grew out of a dispute among funeral attendees who knew one another, and they do not believe it was random or motivated by animus toward The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or its faith.
Police have identified the two people killed as 38-year-old Sione Vatuvei and 46-year-old Vaea Tulikihihifo; all eight victims were adults, and at least three of the six injured were reported in critical condition while five remained hospitalized under police protection.
Police say they do not yet know whether the shooting was gang-related and have stated that the circumstances, including any gang connection, are still under investigation.
Salt Lake City police, assisted by federal partners, are reviewing surveillance and license-plate reader footage and following leads, while publicly urging witnesses—who they say have been less than cooperative—to come forward with information.
History
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