The internet moves fast, and usually, the truth gets left in the dust. Over the last week, people have been frantically searching for the video of shooting in Utah after a chaotic night at a church parking lot in Salt Lake City. Honestly, it's one of those situations where the grainy cellphone clips floating around on social media don't even tell half the story.
You’ve probably seen the headlines. Two dead. Six injured. A funeral turned into a crime scene. But if you're looking for the actual footage, there’s a lot of noise to sift through before you get to the facts.
The Redwood Road Incident: A Funeral Shattered
On the night of January 7, 2026, things went south at a meetinghouse for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Specifically, the one at 660 N. Redwood Road. People were there to mourn. It was a funeral service for the Tongan community, a space that’s supposed to be sacred.
Suddenly, around 7:30 p.m., the parking lot became a war zone.
According to Salt Lake City Police Chief Brian Redd, this wasn't some random act of hate against the church. It wasn't a targeted religious attack. Basically, it was a "dispute between people who knew each other." A private beef that spilled out into the worst possible place at the worst possible time.
What the Footage Actually Shows
So, what about this video of shooting in Utah that everyone is talking about?
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Detectives have spent the last few days scrubbing through two main types of video:
- Home Security/Surveillance: A nearby resident's security camera caught the audio of the gunshots. It’s haunting. You can hear a rapid exchange of fire—not just one person shooting, but multiple guns.
- Cellphone Clips: This is what’s driving the search trends. Because there were dozens of people at the funeral, several people had their phones out. Some were recording the service inside when the chaos started outside. Others caught the immediate aftermath in the parking lot.
The police have already reviewed a lot of this cellphone footage. In fact, that's how they identified 22-year-old Ryan Daniel Toutai. He was seen in a video wearing a blue L.A. Dodgers hat. While he hasn't been charged with the actual killings yet, he was arrested for investigation of obstruction of justice because he allegedly lied about seeing anything.
The two men who lost their lives were identified as 46-year-old Vaea Tulikihihifo and 38-year-old Sione Vatuvei.
Why Finding the "Full Video" Is Complicated
If you're scouring X (formerly Twitter) or TikTok for a clean, start-to-finish video of shooting in Utah, you’re going to be disappointed. Or worse, you’ll find something fake.
A lot of the "viral" clips are actually from an older, separate event involving a shooting at Utah Valley University back in September 2025. People often mix these up. The UVU shooting involved a high-profile political figure, Charlie Kirk, and the FBI released very specific rooftop footage of that suspect.
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Don't confuse the two. The Redwood Road church shooting is a different beast entirely. It’s a complex investigation hampered by what police call "uncooperative witnesses." Even with the videos they have, the people on camera aren't exactly lining up to tell the cops who pulled the trigger first.
A Pattern of Violence in 2026?
It feels like Utah has been in the news for this stuff way too much lately. Just this week, there was another fatal shooting in Salt Lake City over a stolen bike. Then you have the bodycam footage released from an October incident where an officer shot a man throwing rocks.
It's a lot to process.
The Redwood Road shooting is particularly messy because of the "exchange of gunfire" element. This wasn't a one-sided attack. It was a shootout. That means the "video" isn't just a piece of evidence; it's a puzzle piece in a much larger gang-related or personal vendetta investigation.
Navigating the Aftermath
If you've watched any of the clips, you know the vibe is heavy. You see people in their Sunday best running for cover. You hear the screams of families who were already there to bury someone else.
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Here is what you need to keep in mind if you are following this story:
- Verified Sources Only: If a video isn't coming from a local news outlet like KSL, FOX 13, or the SLCPD itself, take it with a grain of salt.
- The Investigation is Active: As of mid-January 2026, no one has been charged with the actual murders. The police are still asking for anyone with more video to come forward.
- Presumption of Innocence: People like Toutai are being held on obstruction charges, but the "shooter" might still be at large or among the six people currently in the hospital.
Honestly, the best thing you can do is stay updated through the official SLCPD channels. They are under a lot of pressure to solve this, especially since it happened at a house of worship.
Next Steps for Staying Informed:
Check the Salt Lake City Police Department's official newsroom for the latest "Public Record" releases. They usually drop bodycam footage or surveillance stills within 10 days of an incident if it's cleared for public viewing. If you happen to have any footage from the Redwood Road area on the night of January 7, you can submit it anonymously through the "CityProtect" portal or by calling 801-799-3000.