Police reassure the community is safe after shooting at busy Kearns park

KEARNS, Utah — The Unified Police Department is calming a community’s worries after gunfire broke out at a busy Kearns park and left one person wounded. The message around safety comes as the search for one of the two shooters continues.

As the sun set on the Labor Day holiday Monday, playtime and family time were still in full swing at Oquirrh Park in Kearns.

Families with strollers and dogs walked down the paths, while kids laughed and shrieked on the playground. A group of boys tossed around a football on the field, while the parents sat under the pavilion, chatting away after having enjoyed a potluck.

David Tongolei was part of that group, saying they were the Kearns 13th Ward, celebrating the holiday together. He explained they’d been planning the party for about a month.

He said he showed up to the park Sunday evening to try to reserve the spot overnight, but found police around the area instead.