Two people were killed and several injured in a shooting outside a church in Salt Lake City, Utah police said on Wednesday.
The shooting took place in the parking lot of a meetinghouse of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, widely known as the Mormon church.
Among at least eight adult victims, two died of their injuries, the police said, while three of the survivors were critical. The medical condition of the other victims was not known.
Dozens of people were attending a funeral inside at the time. All the victims were adults.
Police said they do not believe the shooter had any animus toward a particular faith.
“We don’t believe this was a targeted attack against a religion or anything like that,” the Salt Lake City police chief, Brian Redd, said.
Police also do not believe the shooting was random. Authorities said no suspect was in custody.
About 100 law enforcement vehicles attended the scene, and helicopters flew overhead.
“This should never have happened outside a place of worship. This should never have happened outside a celebration of life,” the mayor, Erin Mendenhall, said.
The church was cooperating with law enforcement and was grateful for efforts first responders’ efforts, a spokesperson said.
“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,” Sam Penrod said in a statement.
The church is headquartered in Salt Lake City, and about half of Utah’s 3.5 million residents are members of the faith. Churches like the one where the shooting occurred can be found in towns throughout the city and state.
The faith has been on heightened alert since four people were killed when a former Marine opened fire in a Michigan church last month and set it ablaze.
The FBI found that he was motivated by “anti-religious beliefs” against the church.
With Reuters and Associated Press
