1 killed, 2 critically injured in shooting outside Utah funeral: Police
One person was killed and two others critically injured when gunfire erupted outside a Utah church during a funeral, police said.
The shooting occurred Monday outside a church in Kearns, according to Assistant Chief Justin Hoyal with the Unified Police Department of Greater Salt Lake.
Police had received calls earlier Monday from people planning on attending the funeral "indicating there could possibly be a problem," Hoyal said during a press briefing. The individuals "asked our officers to just be visible here at the church as this funeral takes place," he said.
Officers positioned at the scene heard shots ring out on the south side of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints location at approximately 11:25 a.m. local time Monday, Hoyal said.
The officers found one man in the road with critical injuries, Hoyal said. He was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The officers saw a second male victim being carried to a vehicle in the parking lot, Hoyal said. They asked the individuals to stop, though the vehicle left, prompting a pursuit that ended with officers boxing the car in nearby, Hoyal said. The victim was transported to a local hospital with critical injuries, he said.
Officers located a third male victim at the church, who was transported to a hospital with critical injuries, Hoyal said.
"We believe that all the injuries were gunshot-related," Hoyal said, noting that all victims are believed to have been shot outside the church building.
The incident is believed to be isolated, Hoyal said. Authorities are looking at possible gang involvement as part of the investigation, he said.
Detectives are interviewing "many witnesses" who were involved in the funeral, as well as the victims in the hospital, Hoyal said.
The incident prompted a brief lockdown at several schools in the Granite School District out of caution, school officials said.
