In the spring of 1999, a 55-year-old woman named Patricia Frengs traveled to Salt Lake City, Utah, to delve into her family's history. An avid genealogist, she was spending time at the Mormon Family History Library, a place renowned for its vast collection of records. On April 15th, what began as a day of quiet research turned into a scene of terror and tragedy that would cut her life short.
That Thursday, a 71-year-old man named Sergei Babarin entered the library and, without warning,
began shooting. Panic erupted as patrons and staff scrambled for cover, hiding under tables and in any available shelter. In the midst of the chaos, Patricia Frengs was struck by the gunfire. She, along with a security guard at the library, became the two fatalities in the senseless rampage. Four other people were also wounded during the attack.
The gunman, later identified as a Russian immigrant who reportedly suffered from schizophrenia, moved through the building, even stopping to reload his weapon. The tragic event came to an end when police officers responded to the scene and confronted Babarin. He was shot by police and died while being transported to the hospital. As the shooter was killed at the scene, there were no subsequent arrests or trials in connection with Patricia Frengs's death. The incident left a community in shock and a family mourning the loss of a beloved wife and mother who had simply been pursuing her passion for family history.
