Deseret News | LDS missionary slightly injured in Salt Lake shooting

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LDS missionary slightly injured in Salt Lake shooting

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Ditto on the smell test | 3:15 p.m. Dec. 18, 2008

As I read the story, I just kept thinking, "Uh huh, yeah, right."

Shoemaker | 3:19 p.m. Dec. 18, 2008

When shoes are outlawed, only the outlaws will have shoes. Size 10 caliber are the worst, btw. They've been know to almost take out presidents.

However--if you lace your shoes good and tight, they won't get away from you. Slip-ons, however--well, that's a different story.

to: "I smell a coverup" | 3:23 p.m. Dec. 18, 2008

I got it and laughed out loud!

Comments continue below

Not a stupid kid | 3:41 p.m. Dec. 18, 2008

He's a good kid and an Eagle Scout. I have known him his entire life and he's an honorable person. I can understand him not reporting this. While I was on my mission I got very sick with what I thought was flu. My companion kept asking me if I needed to see a doctor and if he should call the mission prez. I said I'd be fine and don't call (I didn't want to put anyone out). After a couple days of it my comp finally did call and the MP told him to check my temperature. It was 105 degrees and they rushed me to the hospital.
It's not hard to undersdtand, that's just the way kids think, I'm just glad he's okay.

Anonymous | 4:30 p.m. Dec. 18, 2008

Something Fishy going on....

800 lbs Gorilla (again) | 4:36 p.m. Dec. 18, 2008

I see that everyone is talking about if missionaries report crimes. Not the issue. Does anyone belive that there was a good ear within a quarter mile that didn't hear 3 gunshot reports? Somebody would have heard the shots and reprted it.

jbird | 4:49 p.m. Dec. 18, 2008

I noticed the article said, "Investigators went door to door...".
Sounds like a great area to do missionary work. Usually, it's the missionaries who go door to door looking for investigators.

Shalom y'all!

Alex | 4:59 p.m. Dec. 18, 2008

Anonymous | 4:30 p.m. Dec. 18, 2008:

"Something Fishy going on.... "

Alright, Ms. Anonymous, why don't you go ahead and explain to all of us dunderheads what their diabolical plot was. I am all ears.

Alex | 5:02 p.m. Dec. 18, 2008

Chuck Schroeder | 4:50 p.m. Dec. 18, 2008:

"Self Righteous people like you are what give Mormons a bad reputation. Pull the beam out of your eye, before you notice the mote in others. "

You know something. I don't think Chuck is even a Mormon. He is trying to give Mormon's a bad reputation by posing as one.

Sam | 5:22 p.m. Dec. 18, 2008

I was held at gunpoint with my companion for 3 hours by the Russian Mafia on my mission. We certainly never reported that to the police. Then, I a conversation with a cab driver who turned out to be an ex-KGB offical. The driver thought I was trying to incite a riot somehow and reported me. My native Russian mission president sent me to the modern-day equivallent of the KGB headquarters for "questioning." Fortunately, he sent me with the biggest football-player type Elder he could fine. It worked out well and I certainly never spoke about either incident until I got home. That said, Utah is no Russia. Must be more to the story.

Dan M | 5:25 p.m. Dec. 18, 2008

It's rather interesting to look at the contrast of comments.

Everyone that has indicated that they too have gone on a mission sympathize with the Elders. I went on a mission and can understand their thought process as well.

Of those criticising these missionaries, not a single one of them has shown any sign that they "know what it's like" to have served two years for the Lord.

Mission experience | 5:36 p.m. Dec. 18, 2008

When I was on my mission, I got hit with beer in the face, just like that BYU player in RES. Also, I read that one day former President Bill Clinton was out jogging and a car drove by him and someone threw a beer bottle at him. But it was a draft and he dodged it!

He's just a kid | 5:35 p.m. Dec. 18, 2008

I knew an Elder who was raped by a guy yet he never reported the crime and now he has serious mental and emotional problems. I feel a lot of sympathy for him but I understand why he chose not to report it.

I also understand why this missionary took some time before reporting it. It is a horrible experience and you don't want to do anything to be sent home or worry your parents.

My heart goes out to these missionaries and their parents and I plan to keep them in my prayers.

Why ? | 6:07 p.m. Dec. 18, 2008

Wny would they make up a story several days later. That doesn't make any sense.

Maybe they said a prayer for the shooter and put it in God's hands.

RvM | 6:08 p.m. Dec. 18, 2008

This story reads like a hoax. Officials should be looking at what these missionaries were REALLY doing.

SLC is NOT Russia, Brazil, or any other crazy place where guns are pulled on missionaries. ANYONE without anything to hide would have reported it right away in this situation.

The story simply does not square with common sense.

John B | 6:52 p.m. Dec. 18, 2008

What a shame to have people serving the Lord and well doing so are at risk. I tell you the world is becoming worse all the time. We know though that it is the sign of the times. My heart and prayers go out to these fine young men who are serving the Lord. It was the Lord who made sure nothing tragic happened.

They we're probably in shock so it took time to report it. I stand with these 2 men serving the Lord. I wish them the best and hope their mission eneds well.

To Everyone: | 8:02 p.m. Dec. 18, 2008

How about we all practice a little proof reading and spell checking before clicking "Add your comment". Also, get a life. I can't believe that I spent the last ten minutes reading your lame arguments... all except for "I smell a coverup". I like where your head is at, and along with Sam Gerrard the "Big Dog", I don't want anyone using words around me that have no meaning.

God Bless and Merry Christmas!

Oh yeah, Romney 2012!

Anonymous | 8:48 p.m. Dec. 18, 2008

My son was mugged on his mission and his president had him call me, so I could hear his voice and know he was okay. The president said that was news that shouldn't be rec'd in a letter. I appreciated so much, the way it was handled. It does sound fishy to me they were shot at and didn't report it. A gunman on the loose is a danger to EVERYONE. They should know that by this age. I don't think we've heard the whole story yet.

John Pack Lambert | 9:41 p.m. Dec. 18, 2008

When my bike got stollen on my mission I called the police to report the crime. They said we had to come in to report the crime. My first thought was "How will we get there if the bike I normally travel on has been stolen".
On one occasion someone threw a beer bottle at my companion. We never thought of reporting that to police.
Since this guy just had a minor injury in his arm, I am not surprised he waited to report the incident.

The Shadow | 9:58 p.m. Dec. 18, 2008

The boy and his companion will be sent home soon. End of story.

my neighborhood | 10:34 p.m. Dec. 18, 2008

I live in that neighborhood. I can totally believe the story. Yea it is a relatively safe place, but we do hear gun shots from time to time. Also West Temple and 1700 South are NOT downtown. West Temple Street this far south is very dark. It is a neighborhood with big trees lining the street. A guy could shoot at someone and disappear pretty quickly. What do you expect the missionaries to do, chase after him? Of course the guy ï¿½disappeared.ï¿½ You think the shooter is going to stick around to get caught? There was no evidence, so why call the cops? The cops could have done nothing. I wouldnï¿½t have reported it either.

BB | 10:53 p.m. Dec. 18, 2008

What kind of warped thinking leads you to not report getting shot in the middle of the public as an open representative of an organization? Someone shake some sense into these sheltered kids!

Rocky | 11:09 p.m. Dec. 18, 2008

Apparently 11:52 needs to read up on his English. We are using words that are too big. Better dummy up people and simplify our terminology, so the...oh dear....now I'm being politically incorrect. And...I've used big words. Sorry

worry | 12:16 a.m. Dec. 19, 2008

I can see not wanting to worry your mom. That is something that would freak out a lot of moms. They should have called the police right away to try and catch the guy, but in the heat of the moment, it is easy to make the wrong decision and think better about it when it is too late.

I never told my mom either | 2:04 a.m. Dec. 19, 2008

I never told my mom half the stuff I did when I was 19 or 20 either, did you?

LOVE AND FORGIVE 11;19pm dec | 2:18 a.m. Dec. 19, 2008

Everybody have a mistake in that mistake they can learn from that mistake I think that 2 missionary when the accident happen they don"t know what to do they don"t think to call the police or call the leader they only think to there family they don't want there family to worry about may be they scary and please don't charge them I think they neat us to warm up them advice them and love them all the comment is right please please give them advice cause these 2 missionary they do the lord work I feel sorry for these 2 young men I know Heavenly Father protect them please please make these 2 young men feel comptable send your love to them cause we can't do nothing the accident it happen I love these 2 young men keep up the good work

Madge | 3:45 a.m. Dec. 19, 2008

I was a sister missionary for the church and my companion and I were almost shoot twice. The neighbors had to hold one man back from shooting us. We never reported it to our leaders nor police. You are young and go on with your work.

DennyG | 5:44 a.m. Dec. 19, 2008

"More than good fortune at work", that's silly.
Fortuntately for the missionaries he had bad aim.
I'm guessing in reality that the missionaries were not where they were supposed to be at a time they were supposed to be. Virtually every problem in our mission 37 years ago took place late, and in areas where missionaries wre not supposed to be.

Paul in MD | 6:23 a.m. Dec. 19, 2008

At least one commenter said he found it strange that with three shots at close range the shooter only grazed one of the boys. But look at the story. The shooter was said to be about 40 feet from them when he fired, and at 8:00 PM in SLC at this time of year it is dark. 40 feet in the dark with a handgun is NOT close range. Unless the shooter is very good, it's a little surprising he was that accurate.

Someone also suggested this was self-inflicted, or the two were fooling around and one shot the other. If they were close enough to be horsing around and fire a shot accidentally, there would most likely be powder burns, and that definitely would have been reported.

Bottom line for me - these two kids (yes, kids) probably were just throwing snowballs at each other when they should have been knocking on doors (not unheard of), someone fired shots (who knows why), and they high-tailed it home. Mission president should tell them all, and future incoming missionaries, this story and what to do if something remotely like it happens.

Live, learn, and stop assuming the worst.

RE: my neighborhood | 6:38 a.m. Dec. 19, 2008

It is a lovely street, especially how the trees lined up along the street. Comparable with the Avenues. If only the community neighborhood can organize a crime watch? That would be nice...

Charlotte Watts Crewe, Va. | 6:50 a.m. Dec. 19, 2008

Please, can't we think of the good these young men are doing.We don't need to look at their faults or anyone else.We need to learn to get along and love everyone, no matter what faults they have.

doozy | 6:58 a.m. Dec. 19, 2008

1700 SW temple is NOT in the middle of downtown Salt Lake. Get a map.

samoa | 7:23 a.m. Dec. 19, 2008

...prolly nothing to this story...however, the companion of the shot elder is samoan and when polys are involved ANYTHING can happen!!! take it from me, im a mormon and polynesian! the name of the poly elder sounds like someone straight from the islands too! that means-in a lot of ways he is more RAW than US polys...you know, the type of guy who has never seen or held a gun before. never seen snow before. never seen so many white people before. never eaten a burrito before lol!!

pray for the elders and sisters out there everybody!

Anonymous | 7:59 a.m. Dec. 19, 2008

Alex, get a life your boreing...

Anonymous | 8:20 a.m. Dec. 19, 2008

The story could potentialy be more damaging press for the church. I hope the story sticks true but I suspect more will come of this. This story just does not make any sense.

JJ | 8:20 a.m. Dec. 19, 2008

Love the word 'nefarious'. Nice choice. I don't remember telling my mom that my companion and I were met at a door by a man with a gun. Usually sister missionaries can avoid that stuff by being sister missionaries. Glad it wasn't serious.

Wilford | 9:11 a.m. Dec. 19, 2008

These comment make the missionaries sound like mama's boys, why are they out in the world if they still need to be with their mothers and if so young and inexperienced how can they be telling others how to live their lives.

James | 9:27 a.m. Dec. 19, 2008

Well, at least no one got hurt.

What the?? | 9:32 a.m. Dec. 19, 2008

"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."

The article makes no sense. Who is "she" where it says "she said"? All of a sudden we are introduced to some unidentified female in the story. Also, "the man". Did "the man" talk to his church leaders or did the missionary? Was this article written at 3 in the morning? I understand the point of the story, but seriously...

Sarah Nichole | 9:39 a.m. Dec. 19, 2008

My brother served a mission in south Chicago, where he was mugged and shot at on more than one occasion. He and his companions never reported any of it to their mission leader, and my brother never told the family until he came home, so my parents wouldn't freak out. I know of another missionary from my home ward, the son of my YW leader, who was in a car accident where the car rolled and skidded off a bridge, and he was stitched up in the bishop's living room with no anesthesia. His mom didn't hear about it for weeks, though obviously the mission president knew immediately.

Missionaries all over the world have stories like that, things happen. I'd say that probably half of all these incidents never get reported, not because the missionaries did anything wrong, and not because they were trying to help criminals go free, but because they don't want to cause a fuss and upset everybody when they came out of it okay.

Been There... | 9:45 a.m. Dec. 19, 2008

It has long been said if the Church wasn't true, missionaries would have destroyed it a long time ago. Missionaries are teenagers and they act like it. I could write a book on the foolish things missionaries did in my mission, and the lies they told to cover their actions so they weren't sent home! Drinking, carrying on with girls, stealing, vandalism... you name it, and it was done and covered up!

I would bet a large amount of money that this story was just made up by these missionaries to cover up some bad behavior they engaged in. Only a fool would fail to report a shooting like that!

And as for all the "Mormon-haters" trying to belittle the Mormons - If we weren't so full of ourselves and trying to spin every story and every bit of history to make us look as good as possible, maybe people wouldn't need to try to bring us down a few notches! No matter how strong your testimony is, we are just people, no better and no worse than anyone else (although we ARE WORSE if we continue to be arrogant and think we are somehow better than others!)

Response to John | 9:56 a.m. Dec. 19, 2008

To John Pack Lambert,

I have read so many of your posts it makes me sick. You seem to feel an arrogant need to comment on everything as if everybody cares about what you think! Based on what I have read from you, we don't care to hear from you ever again! Your comments are self-absorbed and an embarassment to the Church. If you were like this on your mission, it is no wonder your bike got stolen ("stollen"? Did you go to college?)!!!!!!

not reported? | 11:40 a.m. Dec. 19, 2008

These posts are part of the reason the crime was not reported. To a 19 year old we are making a big thing out of nothing, no one was hurt. It was ï¿½ attempted murder should be taken very seriously. But I raised several kids and they tend to see things differently in those tender years, and despite want things people may want to think or say these are very young people. And young nexperienced people make mistakes. But if it makes you feel better believe they were up to no good and go ahead and post it. Just donï¿½t believe you condemning and ridiculing remarks have nothing to do with why this was not reported in the first place.

Re: Been there | 11:40 a.m. Dec. 19, 2008

I served a mission and so did my husband and kids, etc. There is no way you are a Mormon. You are trying to smear the Church. Things happen, I saw stuff, but not to the degree you are saying and usually it comes out and the missionary is sent home. It is the anti-Mormons that go on about Mormon arrogance. Try honesty.

William | 12:16 p.m. Dec. 19, 2008

I don't live in Salt Lake but in Nebraska. Many things happen that are not reported to parents, not because of a cover up but because it isn't necessary. In this case, yes they should have called the police. Lets just say it is just around 8:00 pm as the storied indicated and they are approximately 45 minutes from their home. If they call they police they will be out passed their curfew. Why call since no one was technically hurt? They should have called the police and their Mission President. The Mission President would have understood the situation and given all the time they needed.

Young 19 year olds don't always think of that when it happens, only afterwards. Lesson learned. I've worked with missionaries a lot and understand that I was once young like them. I made the same stupid assumptions, but learned from it. They too will learn. Lets quit the oh how embarrasing this is. We should thank the Lord for protecting these youngmen who were out doing good.

Merry Christmas | 12:19 p.m. Dec. 19, 2008

I served a mission in Ventura, California, and I saw all kinds of crazy stuff. I was on splits and walked through a gang fight in an apartment complex. I didn't realize it until we were safely through it. Yes, someone higher up was watching out for us. We experienced many scary things, but we thought it par for the course back then. I am a female, too. I can believe this story completely. I've worked with police and have arrested people and filled out police reports. There isn't a whole lot to be done in an area like 1700 S. Take a drive yourself one of these evenings and see what you think. If this happened to my kids on their missions, I would understand. Missionaries are young and fallible. Thank goodness the Lord is watching over them.

Been There | 12:27 p.m. Dec. 19, 2008

To Re: Been there | 11:40 a.m.

Would you like to see my temple recommend?

Falsely accusing someone of lying is not honest.

YOU should try honesty!

I have documented all the cases of crimes committed, lies told, and more in my mission journals. I was in the Mission office for many months. It is all true!

Katie | 12:37 p.m. Dec. 19, 2008

I think you all need to take a chill pill! I understand if they didn't want to worry their parents! Give them a break! Are you perfect?

The bigger issue | 12:50 p.m. Dec. 19, 2008

Beyond why the elder didn't report it sooner, the bigger issue is why was someone trying to shoot these innocent young men? Pure evil. There's no other excuse. And I don't want to hear about Prop 8, or bitter Mormon-haters, or maybe the guy just had a bad childhood. There is NO excuse for such an act.

AK | 12:51 p.m. Dec. 19, 2008

Aren't we supposed to uphold the laws? A man commits a felony, and, potentially, could shoot another missinary? Not reporting was not following the law.

an attempted murder is now scott free.

Its my own view, but this happening in SLC? and no one else heard the shots?

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