LDS missionary slightly injured in Salt Lake shooting
The incident happened Saturday about 8 p.m. near 1700 S. West Temple. Two missionaries, ages 19 and 21, from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, were throwing snowballs at each other, Salt Lake Police Sgt. Robin Snyder said. A statement from the church has identified them as Elder Lemafe Talapa and Elder Joshua Parks.
The 19-year-old was shaking off his coat when a man "appeared out of nowhere" and without saying a word, fired three rounds at the missionaries from about 40 feet away, Snyder said.
Just as quickly as the man appeared, he was gone right after the shots were fired. It is unknown if the man was in a vehicle or walked away, Snyder said.
Parks, the 19-year-old missionary, received an inch to 2-inch cut due to the bullet grazing his arm. But the man reportedly did not want to upset his family over what had happened, so he did not call police, she said.
It wasn't until Wednesday when he told one of his church leaders about the shooting that he was instructed to report the incident to authorities immediately, Snyder said. By that time, however, it was hard for detectives to find any evidence at the crime scene.
Investigators went door-to-door questioning residents and business owners about what they saw or heard, she said.
"We hit every house on the east and west end of the street," Snyder said.
The only description police have of the shooter is a man of unknown race, about 5-foot-10 and 150 pounds, last seen wearing a blue hoodie. Anyone with information can call police at 799-INFO (4636).
"We are very grateful that neither young man was seriously hurt," said church spokesman Scott Trotter. "We have no idea what motive there would be for an incident such as this."
Trotter said the safety of its missionaries is a top priority for the church. LDS officials said they are working closely with law enforcers in the investigation.
E-mail: preavy@desnews.com
Recent comments
i was in the mission when it all happened...lydia who is your son?
anonym | Jan. 21, 2009 at 8:43 a.m.
My son is serving in the SLC mission, and yes it should have been...
Lydia | Jan. 12, 2009 at 2:18 p.m.
Who gets shot and doesn't call the cops. What are you stupid?...
Are You Kidding | Dec. 25, 2008 at 4:42 p.m.
- BYU football: What others are saying 7:45 p.m.
- Should districts pay union reps? 7:12 p.m.
- I-80 reconstruction finally done 6:55 p.m.
- Child porn case nets fed sentence 6:44 p.m.
- Groups celebrate Dobbs' CNN exit 6:43 p.m.
- H1N1 slightly down in Utah 6:40 p.m.
- Retirement fund still seeking money 6:39 p.m.
- Judge to send message in mink case 6:37 p.m.
- Man arrested in armed robbery 6:35 p.m.
- Smoking up nationally, down in Utah 5:36 p.m.
- House passes health care bill
333 - SLC council OKs gay rights policies
317 - TCU showdown has big implications
195 - Senators want food tax restored
158 - Cougars crush hapless Cowboys
155 - Will state consider gay rights law?
137 - Editorial: Mormons and gay rights
134 - Utah Jazz fall apart against Kings
131 - TCU 4th in AP poll; U. 16th, Y. 22nd
119 - Letters: Strange breed in Utah
118
One of my guilty pleasures is perusing the covers of celebrity magazines...
The galactic center shines like firelight through gaps in …
yeah but zero big game win. Utah fans will be sad after Maxi leaves. ...
Per the Utah Department of Corrections website, he is in Draper prison,...
Nice to see, once again, how many judgemental people there are out there. ...
With the comments I made about coaches, I did not want to come off as a suck...
Byu has none. None. Beating a pathetic 7-4 Michigan team in 1984 is the...
My children attend a Jordan School District High School. In 2006 our...
My sympathies to the Schmanski family. Shortly after Tori's accident my...
BYU is also silent about BCS --after big loss to TCU. BYU was silent...
Once again, the public is being stirred up with half-truths coming from some...
PG DWILL SG MATHEWS SF AK PF MILSAP C FES 2ND UNIT PG PRICE-MAYNOR SG...

