The killing spree that was perpetrated Monday night at Salt Lake City’s Trolley Square shopping mall was reportedly cut short by a “Good Guy with a Gun.” An off-duty Ogden City police office was instrumental in ending the shooting spree.
The gunman, Sulejmen Talovic, was an 18-year-old Bosnian non-practicing Muslim refugee who lived in Salt Lake City.
Salt Lake City Police Chief Chris Burbank reported that just before 7pm Monday night, Talovic drove to Tolley Square, parking in the West Terrace parking lot. “As he exited his vehicle he encountered two individuals, which he immediately shot. He entered in the west doors of Trolley Square encountering a female there, and immediately shot her as well. … He proceeded to walk eastbound through the mall, encountering five individuals in a gift shop, and he shot all five of those individuals. Moving throughout the mall, he attempted to shoot numerous other individuals, encountering two others before the off-duty Ogden City police officer engaged him and distracted his attention. ”
Barret Dodds (29), the owner of a nearby antique-store, said he saw a man in a trench coat exchanging gunfire with a police officer outside a card store. “I saw the cops go in the store. I saw the shooter go down,” said Dodds, who watched from the second floor.
Ogden Police Chief Jon Greiner confirmed that Officer Ken Hammond was off-duty and that killed exchanged fire with the gunman. Hammond was at the mall with his wife celebrating Valentine’s Day two days early. Officer Hammond was instrumental in distracting the gunman and buying Salt Lake Police enough time to respond and take up positions.
Three (unnamed) Salt Lake City officers were also involved in the shootout with the gunman, a police spokesperson said.
Casualties include:
- Jeffrey Walker, 53
- Vanessa Quinn, 29
- Kirsten Hinkley, 15
- Teresa Ellis, 29
- Brad Frantz, 25
Wounded and hospitalized are:
- Carolyn Tuft, 43
- Shawn Munns, 34
- Stacy Hansen, 53
- Allen Walker, 16
The number of others injured (not requiring hospitalization) was not released.
A very rough home-video can be seen of the events at the KUTV website.
And now Salt Lake City’s mayor, “Rocky” Anderson is throwing his hat into the ring and accusing anyone that mentions Talovic’s religious background (Muslim) is a “hate-monger,” being “devisive,” and “dividing our community.”
Ironically, he mentioned the shooter’s age and sex in his interview. Isn’t this just “hate-mongering” on the basis of age and sex? Read about it here
Here’s a video interview with one of the two guys responsible for helping to stop the killing spree. It was featured at http://www.usconcealedcarry.com/public/962.cfm :
– http://www.JoeLevi.com