2 Dead and at Least 6 Injured After 'Senseless' Shooting Outside Salt Lake City Church During Funeral By Becca Longmire

Two people have died and multiple others have been injured after a shooting occurred outside a church in Salt Lake City where a memorial was taking place.

On Wednesday, Jan. 7, Salt Lake City Police Department (SLCPD) confirmed on Facebook that they were on the scene of a shooting at 660 N. Redwood Road, adding that two victims had been killed and at least six others had been injured.

At least three of the injured are in critical condition, police added.

“The suspects are still outstanding, but our officers have obtained solid leads and are working to locate those involved,” the SLCPD’s latest Facebook post stated.

The condition of the other three injured in the shooting was not immediately known, as they were taken to hospitals in private vehicles, SLCPD spokesperson Glen Mills said, per The Salt Lake Tribune.

The shooting occurred at around 7:30 p.m. local time on Wednesday evening in the parking lot of a house of worship for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints while a funeral was taking place inside, ABC4 Utah reported.

Shots were fired after an altercation broke out, the outlet noted.

Salt Lake City Police Chief Brian Redd doesn’t think the attack was targeted toward a particular faith. “We don’t believe this was a targeted attack against a religion or anything like that,” Redd said, per the Associated Press. 

Redd added that police had been speaking to “dozens of individuals” who had been attending the funeral, and said that all the victims were of adult age, per KSL TV 5.

The church where the incident took place serves mostly a Tongan congregation, the AP noted. According to the church’s website, regular services are delivered in Tongan.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints spokesman, Sam Penrod, said in a statement following the shooting on Wednesday, “We are aware of a serious incident that occurred outside a Church meetinghouse at 660 North Redwood Road in Salt Lake City tonight as a memorial service was being held in the chapel,” according to ABC4 Utah. 

Penrod continued, “The Church is cooperating with law enforcement and is grateful for the efforts of first responders. Until more information is available, all questions about this incident are being directed to the Salt Lake City Police Department.” 

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“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,” the spokesperson added, per the outlet.

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Utah Sen. Mike Lee was among those sharing his condolences on X following the attack, writing, “Join me in praying for the victims of such senseless violence and all the families of this church.”

“Please contact local law enforcement if you have any information about the perpetrators,” Lee added.

PEOPLE has reached out to the Salt Lake City Police Department and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for additional information, but didn’t immediately receive responses.