Two families are grieving after a pair of relatives were shot and killed outside a Mormon church in Salt Lake City, where they had gathered to pay their respects at a funeral. The shooting, which police believe is linked to gang activity, also left six other mourners wounded.
A Funeral Shattered by Gunfire
The violence erupted at approximately 7.30pm on Wednesday outside a meetinghouse of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Redwood Road. The congregation was holding a funeral viewing for Asi Sekona, 47, who had died suddenly on 29 December.
Mourners were outside the church when gunfire broke out. The attack claimed the lives of Sione Vatuvei, 38, and Vaea 'Junior' Tulikihihifo, 46. Tulikihihifo had travelled from California to attend the service. In total, eight people were hit by the gunfire.
Victims Remembered and a Community in Shock
Sione Vatuvei was known as a social media influencer and a positive force within Utah's Pacific Islander community. Friends described him as a "light in dark times" and noted his involvement in men's groups and anti-violence charities.
Vaea Tulikihihifo's family shared their heartbreak online. His cousin, Luana Latime, wrote: "Soooo heartbroken to know that my cousin Jr lost his life... Taken from us far too soon." His sister, Shannon Bloomfield, called the perpetrators "cowards" for the "senseless act of violence" that took her "first blood".
The funeral was for Asi Sekona, whose wife, Naioka Tilini Sekona, recounted his sudden passing while they were in Florida. "I went to the bathroom, came back out and he was gone," she wrote, believing he waited for her to leave so she wouldn't witness his final breath.
Police Investigation and Community Response
Salt Lake City Police Department confirmed an active manhunt is underway for the shooter or shooters. The force's gang unit is heavily involved in the investigation. Police Chief Brian Redd stated that authorities do not believe this was a targeted attack on the Mormon faith, nor do they think it was random. "We believe this was gang related," he indicated during a press conference.
Several people were detained as material witnesses, but no suspects have been named or described. The scene was flooded with about 100 police cars, and the area remained closed for hours. The investigation was complicated by the fact some victims were taken to hospital in a private vehicle.
Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall expressed outrage: "This should not have happened outside a place of worship, at a celebration of life... We will not rest until those individuals responsible are brought to justice."
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued a statement expressing deep concern that a sacred space was subjected to violence and extended prayers to all impacted. The church, headquartered in Salt Lake City, has been on heightened alert since a deadly attack on a Michigan congregation last month.
Of the six wounded, three were reported to be in a critical condition. The victims were part of Utah's close-knit Tongan community, which represents the largest Pacific Islander population in the state.
