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A gunman opened fire in the Mormon Church's Family History Library in Salt Lake City April 15, killing two people and wounding five others before being shot dead by police.
The gunman was identified as Sergei Babarin, 71, who police said had been arrested with a .22-caliber pistol during an altercation at a department store four years ago. Police said Babarin was schizophrenic and had not been taking his medication.
Library security guard Donald Thomas, 62, and library visitor Patricia Frengs, 55, died of their wounds. Four others, including a 71-year-old woman shot in the face, were wounded as Babarin roamed through the building, even stopping once to reload.
About 2,700 people, many in town for an international genealogical conference, were evacuated from the library, one of the world's foremost genealogical-research centers. The New York Times reported that 17 patrons barricaded themselves for two hours on the library's second floor during Babarin's gun battle with police.
Church officials said the library would not reopen until April 19.
Posted April 19, 1999.
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