Authorities in Utah have reported the deaths of five people in what appears to be a murder-suicide carried out by a father in a Salt Lake City suburb. A 17-year-old boy, believed to be the man’s son, survived with severe brain injuries.
The shooting, which occurred over the weekend in a split-level home, was discovered Tuesday when a concerned relative entered the home after being unable to reach the family. Inside, the woman found the teenager, who had been critically wounded, in the garage.
Police found the mother, 38, and two daughters, ages 9 and 2, dead together in an upstairs bedroom. In a downstairs living room, officers discovered the bodies of an 11-year-old boy and the father, 42, with a handgun beneath him. Authorities believe the father shot his family members before turning the weapon on himself.
West Valley City Police Department spokeswoman Roxeanne Vainuku stated, “The father likely shot all of the members of the family and then himself.”
The teenage survivor is thought to have made his way to the garage after being shot elsewhere in the house.
Neighbors reported no gunshots or disturbances over the weekend, and there were no previous records of domestic violence involving the family. Police have yet to uncover a note or other evidence explaining the motive.
“It’s certainly hard for our community to comprehend,” Vainuku said during a news conference.
The family’s relative initially contacted police Monday night after failing to reach the mother for several days. Officers checked the property and spoke with neighbors but did not observe any signs of immediate danger, asking the relative to remain vigilant. When the mother did not appear for work the following day, the relative entered the home and discovered the scene.
This case marks the 38th mass killing in the United States this year, as defined by the FBI, where four or more people are killed within a 24-hour period, excluding the perpetrator. At least 165 lives have been lost in such incidents nationwide in 2024.
