KEARNS, Utah — Distressing photographs and videos shared on Facebook have captured scenes of horror and devastation as family members reacted to the deadly shooting outside a Tongan funeral at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints meetinghouse in Utah.
The footage showed a visibly devastated mother crying at the scene, while another grieving person, believed to be a sibling or close relative of one of the victims, fell to his knees and lowered his head to the ground in apparent shock and anguish.
The emotional scenes unfolded after gunfire killed a man and injured others outside the church in Kearns.
A livestream obtained by Kaniva News captured the moments before and after gunshots were heard during the funeral at the Kearns stake centre. Chaos and panic erupted as mourners rushed to safety without knowing what was happening outside.
The video initially showed a woman delivering a eulogy before someone was heard screaming in the background. Seconds later, people inside the church began shouting in alarm and running towards the exits.
As mourners rushed outside, someone was heard shouting, “No! No!” while others yelled, “Get out!” and “Call 911!”
No one inside the church was injured in the shooting or the panic that followed.
Police identified the man killed as 18-year-old Vilisoni Angilau. A 17-year-old and another 18-year-old were critically injured and transported to hospital.
Other livestreamed footage later shared on Facebook captured the immediate aftermath outside the building. A man believed to be Angilau was seen lying on the ground as emergency personnel attempted to treat him.
Further footage showed family members and relatives weeping and visibly overcome with grief.
Afuhia Masiu Manatau, 45, was arrested following the shooting and faces charges of first-degree felony murder and felony discharge of a firearm.
Police alleged that Manatau supplied a gun to his 17-year-old son, who then shot Angilau and the other 18-year-old during an altercation. The teenage suspect was subsequently shot during a struggle for the weapon and remained in critical condition.
The allegations against Manatau and his son have not been proven in court.
A funeral flyer indicated that the service was being held for 23-year-old ʻOfaʻatangikivaha Angilau, who was fatally shot at a Riverton petrol station on August 7.
