Two people have lost their lives and six others are fighting for their lives after a deadly shooting outside a funeral service at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel in Salt Lake City. The incident occurred on Wednesday evening, with police receiving a call shortly after 7:30 pm local time.
According to authorities, an altercation broke out in the parking lot where the memorial service was taking place, resulting in gunfire. Police have launched an active manhunt for suspects but none are currently in custody.
The victims' conditions range from critical to unknown, with three people in intensive care and three others in stable but unconfirmed condition. The motive behind the shooting is still unclear, with police investigating whether there was a single suspect or multiple individuals involved.
Leaders at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have issued a statement condemning the violence, saying "any sacred space intended for worship should be subjected to violence of any kind." They extended their condolences to those affected by the tragedy and expressed concern about the safety of future gatherings.
As the investigation continues, police are urging anyone with information to come forward. The incident has sent shockwaves through the community, highlighting concerns about public safety in places of worship.
According to authorities, an altercation broke out in the parking lot where the memorial service was taking place, resulting in gunfire. Police have launched an active manhunt for suspects but none are currently in custody.
The victims' conditions range from critical to unknown, with three people in intensive care and three others in stable but unconfirmed condition. The motive behind the shooting is still unclear, with police investigating whether there was a single suspect or multiple individuals involved.
Leaders at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have issued a statement condemning the violence, saying "any sacred space intended for worship should be subjected to violence of any kind." They extended their condolences to those affected by the tragedy and expressed concern about the safety of future gatherings.
As the investigation continues, police are urging anyone with information to come forward. The incident has sent shockwaves through the community, highlighting concerns about public safety in places of worship.
. I mean, funerals should be a place for grieving and finding closure, not a target for violence 
. It's got me thinking, how safe are our churches and other places of worship anymore? I've been to plenty of services in my life and never had any issues, but now I'm wondering if that's because I was always surrounded by friends and family... 
or because there's just more people carrying guns 
. Anyway, my heart goes out to the victims and their families 
. Can't we all just get along? 
I'm still trying to wrap my head around this one... a funeral service at a church and things just go downhill. It's just so senseless 
. This incident is really highlighting the importance of community and looking out for each other - we need to support our neighbors in times of tragedy 
. Fingers crossed that the people affected will get the help they need 
.
. It's estimated that the average church in the US has a capacity for around 200-300 people, making them relatively small targets compared to larger venues like concert halls or shopping centers 
.
.
It's clear we need to take a collective stance on promoting gun safety and community awareness 
.
anyway, my heart goes out to everyone affected by this tragedy 
this is just devastating... i mean what's going on with these funerals? can't people just show respect and peace for each other? 
they deserve all the support we can give 'em. it's crazy that a somber occasion like a funeral turns into chaos like this. but you know what? i'm also thinkin' about the amazing community response that's gonna happen here - people will come together to help each other, share their grief, and support one another through this tough time 
, I didn't realize churches were supposed to be war zones.
. i'm thinking about all the people who were there at that funeral service, just trying to pay their respects and say goodbye... no one deserves to go through what they must have been going through 
.
. Can't help but think about all those families affected by this tragedy and my heart goes out to them 
. It's just not right, you know? And now the Church is out there condemning violence in general, like that's gonna stop it from happening again 
. I mean, what can they do? Make everyone carry guns when they go to church? That'd be a real downer... but seriously, six people fighting for their lives? Three in ICU? This is just getting crazy 
.
. I'm still trying to wrap my head around a funeral service gone wrong like this. It's like, can't we all just get along you know? 
. We should be able to feel safe even in places of worship, you know? It's just... ugh, my heart goes out to the victims' families and loved ones 
. Anyway, seriously though, six people fighting for their lives is no joke, prayers are in order. I guess this incident is a great reminder that even places of worship shouldn't be considered completely safe zones... unless you're looking for a good reason to invest in some metal detectors and security cameras, then yeah, it's a great idea 
.