{"id":2531627,"date":"2026-01-08T17:51:01","date_gmt":"2026-01-08T22:51:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/salt-lake-city-shooting-that-left-two-dead-arose-from-funeral-dispute-police\/"},"modified":"2026-01-08T17:52:12","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T22:52:12","slug":"salt-lake-city-shooting-that-left-two-dead-arose-from-funeral-dispute-police","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/salt-lake-city-shooting-that-left-two-dead-arose-from-funeral-dispute-police\/","title":{"rendered":"Salt Lake City shooting that left two dead arose from funeral dispute: Police"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fsalt-lake-city-shooting-that-left-two-dead-arose-from-funeral-dispute-police%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2531627&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A shooting at a Salt Lake City Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that mainly serves Tongan congregants erupted after a dispute among people who had attended a funeral, police said. Two adults &#8211; Vaea Tulikihihifo, 46, and Sione Vatuvei, 38 &#8211; were killed and six others were wounded; five <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doctor-suggests-hospital-change-covid-case-count-a-little-bit-more-scary-for-the-public\/\" title=\"Doctor Suggests Hospital Change COVID Case Count: \u2018A Little Bit More Scary For The Public\u2019\">remain hospitalized<\/a>. Authorities say the attack was not random or motivated by opposition to the Mormon faith, and they are still investigating whether it is gang-related while struggling to get witnesses to cooperate. Neighbors reported hearing the gunfire and seeing victims attended to; the church expressed sorrow and thanked law enforcement. no arrests have been made yet; police are <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >reviewing license-plate readers<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/second-teen-arrested-by-d-c-police-in-shooting-of-commanders-rb-brian-johnson-jr\/\" title=\"Second Teen Arrested by D.C. ... in ... of Commanders RB Brian Johnson Jr.\">nearby surveillance footage<\/a> as they search for suspects.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Salt Lake City shooting that left two dead arose from funeral dispute, police say<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2467333\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>A shooting at a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/utah\/\">Salt Lake City<\/a> Mormon church came after a dispute between attendees of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/funeral\/\">a funeral<\/a> at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who knew each other, police said.<\/p>\n<p>The shooting left two people dead and injured six. Five of the injured remain hospitalized, and no arrests have been made.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/entertainment\/4411456\/kimmel-applauds-minneapolis-mayor-jacob-frey-response-ice\/\">Kimmel applauds Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey&#8217;s response to ICE<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/4411039\/what-to-know-ice-shooting-minneapolis-left-one-woman-dead\/\">What to know about the ICE shooting in Minnesota that left one woman dead<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/4410401\/tim-walz-democrats-trump-propaganda-ice-shooting-minneapolis\/\">Walz leads Democrats in rejecting Trump &#8216;propaganda&#8217; after ICE fatally shoots woman<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Authorities have said they are unsure if the shooting is gang-related, and they are having trouble getting witnesses to cooperate with the investigation.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We are looking into the reason and cause for the gunfire,&rdquo; Salt Lake City Police Chief Brian Redd said Thursday morning. The shooting was not random or based on opposition to the Mormon faith, police said.<\/p>\n<p>Two witnesses of the attack said they heard the gunshots from their apartment next to the church and ran outside to see what had happened. &ldquo;As soon as I came over, I see someone on the ground,&rdquo; Brennan McIntire said. &ldquo;People are attending to him and crying and arguing.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>His wife, Kenna, said she also came upon a woman being lifted into an ambulance. The pair said they often hear gunshots but never that close. &ldquo;It was really heartbreaking to hear and see,&rdquo; she said.<\/p>\n<p>The two deceased victims are Vaea Tulikihihifo, 46, and Sione Vatuvei, 38. All of the victims are adults.<\/p>\n<p>The church mostly serves Tongan congregants and holds regular services in their native language. The establishment has expressed gratitude for law enforcement&rsquo;s efforts.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;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,&rdquo; church spokesman Sam Penrod said.<\/p>\n<p>Police are checking license plate readers and surveillance videos from nearby businesses in their search for suspects.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4410880\/two-people-killed-in-shooting-outside-mormon-church-in-utah\/\">TWO PEOPLE KILLED IN SHOOTING OUTSIDE MORMON CHURCH IN UTAH<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Mayor Erin Mendenhall said the incident &ldquo;should never have happened outside a place of worship.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This should never have happened outside a celebration of life,&rdquo; she said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Funeral dispute led to Salt Lake shooting, 2 dead<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2531628,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/utah.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[69348,70419,39788,35986,4300],"class_list":["post-2531627","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-double-homicide","tag-funeral-dispute","tag-police-investigation","tag-salt-lake-city","tag-shooting"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/utah.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2531627","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2531627"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2531627\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2531631,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2531627\/revisions\/2531631"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2531628"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2531627"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2531627"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2531627"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}