Sulejman Talović

Sulejman Talović was born on October 6, 1988, in Cerska, a small town in the Vlasenica municipality of eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina. He spent his early childhood in a region heavily impacted by the Bosnian War of the 1990s. In 1998, his family immigrated to the United States as refugees, settling in Salt Lake City, Utah, where they built a quiet life in the local Bosniak Muslim community.

Talović lived with his parents and three sisters in a Salt Lake City neighborhood. He was described by relatives as a quiet individual who had difficulties fitting in socially. During his early teen years, he had several minor run-ins with juvenile authorities but no record of violent offenses. He dropped out of high school at age 16 and reportedly spent much of his time at the Trolley Square Mall, which was located just a block from the family's home.

His family, including his aunt Ajka Omerović, described him as a well-behaved young man with no known history of violence. His father later stated that they were unaware he had acquired firearms and expressed shame over the killings. The family was shocked by the events and claimed no prior knowledge of any mental health problems or extremist views.

After the attack, Talović’s body was returned to his homeland and buried in the village of Talovići near Cerska, Bosnia and Herzegovina, on March 2, 2007. His father subsequently moved back to Bosnia, citing emotional distress and a desire to leave the country where his son committed mass murder.

On the evening of February 12, 2007, at approximately 6:42 p.m., Sulejman Talović arrived at the Trolley Square Mall in Salt Lake City, Utah. Armed with a pump-action 12-gauge shotgun, a .38-caliber revolver, and a backpack filled with extra ammunition, Talović began a violent rampage that would last six minutes and result in six fatalities and multiple injuries.

His first victims were encountered in the mall’s west parking garage. There, Talović shot 52-year-old Jeffrey Walker and his 16-year-old son, Alan Walker. Alan survived, but Talović executed Jeffrey at close range. He then moved into the mall’s west entrance, firing at and wounding 34-year-old Shawn Munns before entering the main concourse.

Inside the mall, Talović killed 29-year-old Vanessa Quinn with two gunshots, then entered Cabin Fever, a card and gift store. There, he shot several people hiding inside: Carolyn Tuft, Stacy Hanson, Kirsten Hinckley (15), Brad Frantz (24), and Teresa Ellis (29). Tuft survived multiple gunshot wounds, but her daughter Hinckley and the others died at the scene or shortly after. Hanson was initially paralyzed and died from complications related to his injuries in November 2023, 16 years later.

The attack was interrupted by off-duty Ogden Police Officer Kenneth Hammond, who was dining nearby. After a brief exchange of gunfire between Talović and Hammond, additional officers from the Salt Lake City Police Department and SWAT responded. The final confrontation occurred near the Pottery Barn store, where Sergeant Joshua Scharman, Detective Brett Olsen, and others shot Talović a total of 15 times, killing him.

Talović fired approximately 30 rounds during the attack. Despite speculation about his motive, including rumors of religious extremism, investigators found no evidence linking the attack to terrorism or ideology. The FBI concluded the motive remained unknown.