SALT LAKE CITY (BN24) — One person remains in life-threatening condition following a shooting Saturday night near a ‘No Kings’ protest that drew more than 10,000 people to downtown Salt Lake City, authorities said.
Gunfire erupted shortly before 8 p.m. near the Liberty SKY apartment complex on State Street, where a man collapsed after being shot. Emergency crews administered life-saving treatment before rushing him to a hospital, where he remains in critical condition, Salt Lake City Police Chief Brian Redd told reporters at a late-night news briefing.
Officers in the area responded swiftly after hearing the gunshots at approximately 7:56 p.m., Redd said. Witnesses assisted in identifying a male suspect, who had sustained a gunshot wound and was also hospitalized under police supervision. Authorities believe the suspect was shot before officers arrived at the scene.
Two additional individuals were taken into custody, bringing the total to three people detained in connection to the shooting. Chief Redd said police are not searching for any further suspects at this time.
“The rapid response of our officers ensured the safety of thousands of demonstrators in downtown Salt Lake City,” Redd said, adding that the ‘No Kings’ event organizers cooperated well with law enforcement before the shooting occurred.
Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall condemned the violence and linked it to a broader national trend of unrest. “The violence that we’ve seen today in Salt Lake City and even in other parts of the nation is horrific,” she said, referencing the assassination of Minnesota Rep. Melissa Hortman and the shooting of Senator John Hoffman.
“It is not who we are,” Mendenhall added. “Let me be clear: this act of violence does not define our city. The purpose of today’s demonstration was powerful and peaceful until this moment—and that cannot be overshadowed by a single act meant to harm.”
The motive behind the shooting remains under investigation, but all three individuals taken into custody appeared to have participated in the protest, according to Chief Redd.
The ‘No Kings’ protests, held in multiple cities across the U.S. on Saturday, were organized as an anti-Trump initiative advocating against authoritarian leadership and in support of democratic institutions.
