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Three people have died in a shooting at the LDS Family History Library including the gunman himself, a security guard employee and a female patron of the library, Salt Lake Mayor Deedee Corradini said.
The gunman was identified by police as 70-year-old Sergei Babbarrin from Salt Lake City. Police said the man neglected to take prescription medications.
The attack at the building, just west of Temple Square, resulted in seven gunshot victims according to a report from LDS Hospital. Police report that one of the wounded is a police officer.
Another one of those shot has been reported to be in critical condition with multiple chest wounds.
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Police had also evacuated the area around the Triad Center when a moving van reportedly connected to the suspected gunman was found to contain explosives, according to a report by Channel 2 News.
Police were originally concerned there might be a second suspect because the suspect removed does not match the description of the person who caused problems at the Family History Library last night. Police are now fairly certain that the gunman acted alone, said Salt Lake City Police Lt. Phil Kirk.
Margaret Kane, a Familiy History Library patron from Olympia, Wash., said the shooter appeared to choose his victims at random.
“He just came in and started shooting,” she said.
An initial report that the LDS Temple was evacuated later proved false.
According to Salt Lake City Police Department Spokesman Kent Hansen, the suspect is confirmed dead. There was initial concern that the suspect was wired with a bomb, but that did not prove to be the case.
The suspect apparently carried a concealed weapon into the building under an umbrella, according to Channel 4 News.
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Linda Cook, an employee at the Abravanel Hall, said a list of genealogy library employees has been compiled so that people can call in about loved ones and see if they are all right.
The people evacuated from the various buildings in Salt Lake were sent to Abravanel Hall where they were debriefed by police. Students from Heartland and Vista elementary students who were in the museum were nowhere near the library and all were evacuated safely. Anyone who is searching for relatives can call Abravanel Hall for more information, said Dale Bills of the LDS Church public relations office.
Bruce Olsen, public affairs spokesman for the LDS Church, released an official statement from the First Presidency.
“We very much regret these tragic circumstances. We don’t know all the particulars at this time, but our hearts reach out to the innocent victims and their families. We extend our love and blessings to all who have suffered by reason of these sad and disturbing events, which none of us can understand,” he said.
NewsNet will provide further details as they become available.
