Police are still investigating two days after a shooting outside a Salt Lake City Latter-day Saint meetinghouse killed two people and injured six.
The shooting occurred during a memorial service at the Rose Park 5th Ward meetinghouse of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 660 N. Redwood Road, where Riverside 2nd Ward also gathers. The initial call came in around 7:30 p.m on Wednesday.
All eight people were shot outside the church, Salt Lake City police Chief Brian Redd said. Investigators do not believe the shooting was a “targeted attack” against the faith, he said, or that it was random.
The Police Department’s gang unit was deployed to the church, and Redd said Thursday there were indications individuals at the scene were “potentially involved in gang activity,” but that authorities “don’t know the cause of the violence.”
Police said they believe no threat exists to the public.
Arrests
No arrests have been made in the case as of 9:45 a.m. Friday, Salt Lake City police officer Jason Thompson said. Investigators have said they believe there was more than one shooter.
On Wednesday night, the Salt Lake City Police Department said it had obtained “solid leads” and that investigators were checking nearby surveillance video and license plate readers.
Police are still investigating the shooting, and Thompson said the department will give an update when any suspects are identified or arrested.
Victims
Authorities identified the two men who died as 38-year-old Sione Vatuvei and 46-year-old Vaea Tulikihihifo. Authorities said Thursday morning that five other victims were still being treated, while one had been released.
Tulikihihifo, a father of 12, was in the parking lot getting formula for his 5-month-old son when the gunshots rang out, a relative told The Salt Lake Tribune.
Susi Feltch-Malohifo’ou, CEO of one of Utah’s largest Pacific Islander organizations — Pacific Island Knowledge 2 Action Resources — knew both of the men who were killed. She said on Facebook that Vatuvei leaves behind a wife and son, and “was heading in a great direction” in life after some struggles.
Officers remained at the hospital with victims still being treated, Redd said Thursday, and are continuing to try to interview them.
Some “have been less than cooperative,” he said, adding that detectives were still working “to identify all who were involved in the incident and their roles in the matter.”
The church
The shooting occurred during a memorial service at the church for Asi Sekona, a member of the Pacific Islander community. Both wards that meet in the building were identified as Tongan wards, or congregations, by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Redd said investigators have also been in touch with Latter-day Saint officials, “and we’ll continue to do so.” He urged anyone in the city’s faith communities to reach out to the Police Department with any pending concerns.
Salt Lake City police have also set up an assistance center in the area for those affected by the shooting. Those needing services can stop by the Latter-day Saint meetinghouse at 1155 N. 1200 West between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. for crisis counseling and other victim resources, officials said in a social media post on X.