Probe into Trolley massacre may be wrapped up soon

The FBI says it's closer to understanding Sulejman Talovic — but a motive for his murderous rampage is still a mystery.

Federal agents told the Deseret Morning News they expect to release some of their findings from the exhaustive investigation within the next few weeks.

"It's unclear what his motivation was," FBI Special Agent Scott Wall said Wednesday. "There isn't a lot of information he left behind."

Agents have been working with the Salt Lake City Police Department and questioning a number of people who knew Talovic and were involved in the shootings at Trolley Square. Hundreds of people have been questioned, and those interviews continue this week.

"We're just not finding anything in a direction of motive," Salt Lake City Police Chief Chris Burbank said. "He was obviously a disturbed and kind of loner kid."

Burbank stressed that race or religion did not appear to be factors that influenced the shooting spree.

The biggest mystery still appears to be Talovic himself. The FBI said it has been unable to use its vast resources — including profilers — to help them understand his reasons for the mass murder spree.

"There really has been no written documentation that the subject left behind to be analyzed," Wall said. "The interviews have been talking to friends and associates to try to determine motive."

Armed with a 12-gauge shotgun, a .38-caliber handgun, a backpack full of ammunition and a bandolier of shotgun shells around his waist, Talovic opened fire as soon as he stepped out of his vehicle at the Trolley Square mall.

He killed Jeffrey Walker, 52, and wounded his 16-year-old son Alan "AJ" Walker. On his way into the mall, he shot Shawn Munns, 34. Once inside the mall, he shot and killed Vanessa Quinn, 29, outside Bath and Body Works.

Inside the Cabin Fever card and novelty shop, Talovic killed Teresa Ellis, 29; Brad Frantz, 24; and Kirsten Hinckley, 15. Hinckley's mother, Carolyn Tuft, 44, was wounded. So was Stacy Hanson, 50, who remains hospitalized in fair condition.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said it is still tracing where Talovic got the guns. Police have said the 12-gauge shotgun was purchased legally. The .38-caliber handgun was initially purchased out of state and has changed hands several times, ATF agents said.

---

Contributing: Pat Reavy

E-mail: bwinslow@desnews.com