Victim hospitalized with life-threatening injuries after shooting during Salt Lake protest

SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — At least one person is critically injured after a shooting during the “No Kings” protest in downtown Salt Lake City.

About 10,000 people were marching between Pioneer Park and the Federal Building Saturday when shots were fired near 200 South State Street. Police have taken one person into custody.

“We can confirm the shooting resulted in one person being critically injured. The patient has been taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries,” officials with the Salt Lake City Police Department said in a post.

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Multiple law enforcement units and ambulances responded to the scene shortly after 8 p.m.

Officials are asking demonstrators to leave “safely and orderly.” They are also asking anyone with photos and videos of the incident to upload them to their online portal for evidence.

Gov. Spencer Cox released a statement shortly after the incident, calling the shooting “deeply troubling.”

“The shooting at tonight’s protest in Salt Lake City is a deeply troubling act of violence and has no place in our public square. This is an active situation, and we’re working closely with law enforcement to ensure accountability,” Cox said.

Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall also commented on the incident, saying people deserve to feel safe when exercising their First Amendment rights.

“The violence we’ve seen today in Salt Lake City and elsewhere in the country is horrific—it’s just not who we are,” Mendenhall said. “Thank you to the Salt Lake City Police Department for their quick action tonight to protect lives and support those marching peacefully. My heart is with you, SLC. We’ll get through this.”

The protest was the largest of nearly a dozen that took place in the state of Utah on June 14.

The national “No Kings” protests coincide with President Donald Trump’s joint military celebration of his 79th birthday and the 250th birthday of the U.S. Army. They also come on the tails of the anti-ICE protests, which began in Los Angeles on Friday, June 6.

Police said the protest was permitted, and officers were on scene during the rally and march to manage traffic and respond to public safety threats. Up until the shooting, there were no signs of violence or chaos with protesters walking uniformly through the designated streets.

Officials are currently investigating the incident.

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