Two people were killed and six others were wounded Wednesday evening when gunfire erupted in the parking lot of a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints meetinghouse on the city’s west side, authorities said. The shooting happened during a funeral service at the chapel on North Redwood Road. No suspect was in custody late Wednesday, but police said they had strong leads and did not believe the attack was random or aimed at the faith.
The episode jolted a community still on edge from a year of violence at places of worship nationwide and came as dozens were gathered to mourn inside. Officials said all eight victims were adults; three of the injured were listed in critical condition. The church said it was cooperating with law enforcement and expressed sorrow. Mayor Erin Mendenhall condemned the violence and called it “horrific,” noting that it struck during a moment families expect peace and safety. Investigators worked into the night to secure the sprawling lot, canvass for video and interview witnesses who ran for cover as shots rang out shortly after 7:30 p.m.
Witnesses described a chaotic scene as people attending the memorial heard a burst of gunfire outside and rushed to help those down in the lot. Police and fire crews began receiving 911 calls just after 7:30 p.m., drawing a massive response — roughly 100 law enforcement vehicles and air support, according to officials at the scene. Officers arrived to find multiple victims on the ground between parked cars. Medics triaged and transported the wounded while officers pushed mourners back into the building and cordoned off the block. Salt Lake City Police Chief Brian Redd said early indicators show the violence stemmed from a dispute connected to people at the funeral. Public information officer Glen Mills said detectives were pursuing several promising leads and checking nearby cameras that may have captured vehicles speeding away. “The violence we’ve seen tonight is not who we are,” Mendenhall said, adding that investigators had no evidence the faith community was targeted.
Police said the shooting unfolded outside the meetinghouse at 660 N. Redwood Rd., where a memorial service was underway. All known victims were adults. Authorities said the evidence suggested the incident was neither random nor motivated by religious bias, and that at least one suspect fled before officers arrived. The FBI’s Salt Lake City Field Office said agents were coordinating with local detectives to process evidence and monitor for any broader threats. Church officials issued a brief statement expressing grief for the families and gratitude for first responders. By late evening, detectives had marked dozens of evidence cones across the asphalt and were towing vehicles for processing. A command post remained in place as technicians photographed the scene under floodlights.
Recent months have seen heightened concerns around safety at Latter-day Saint buildings after a deadly attack at a Michigan chapel last fall. Salt Lake City’s west side, a dense mix of residential blocks and commercial corridors along Redwood Road, typically sees steady traffic in the early evening, and large gatherings can spill into nearby lots. Residents said the meetinghouse often hosts funerals that draw relatives from across the valley. Police called Wednesday’s attack extraordinary in its scale: eight adult victims, with two pronounced dead after lifesaving efforts. Hospitals across the valley received the wounded. By night’s end, detectives had interviewed witnesses from inside the service and others who arrived as the scene erupted. Investigators said they were reviewing whether more than one shooter was involved; that remained unknown.
Detectives outlined the next steps: collect ballistic evidence from the lot and vehicles; obtain search warrants for any recovered phones or social accounts tied to people of interest; and pull surveillance footage from businesses along Redwood Road. Officials said they would coordinate with county prosecutors to determine charging decisions once a suspect is identified and arrested. A formal update from police was expected after overnight processing and additional witness interviews. The church said leaders and local volunteers would support affected families in the days ahead. Funeral organizers paused the service and worked with officers to account for attendees after the scene was stabilized. The medical examiner’s office will release the victims’ names once families are notified.
As floodlights cast long shadows across the pavement, mourners embraced near the chapel doors while investigators moved between numbered markers. A row of folding chairs, left from the memorial, sat abandoned behind yellow tape. “We heard the shots and people just started yelling and running,” said Daniel Ruiz, who lives nearby and walked over after hearing sirens. “Then officers came from every direction.” Outside City Hall, Mendenhall reiterated that a funeral “should be a place of comfort,” adding that the city would support victims’ families. Church members gathered in small groups along the sidewalk, some praying quietly. A man who said he arrived late to the service shook his head and described seeing a line of ambulances depart: “It felt unreal.”
By late Wednesday, police maintained a large perimeter around the meetinghouse and said updates would follow as detectives completed overnight work. The investigation’s next public milestone is an anticipated briefing once evidence from the scene is logged and initial interviews are transcribed.
Author note: Last updated January 7, 2026.