17-Year-Old Boy Survives Gunshot Wound to the Head, 3 Children and 2 Adults Found Dead in Utah Family’s Home
(Photos: Arise.tv)
Investigators in West Valley City, Utah, suspect that a man fatally shot his wife and three children before taking his own life in a tragic incident discovered earlier this week, police reported Wednesday.
A 17-year-old boy, believed to be the couple’s eldest son, miraculously survived the shooting despite sustaining a gunshot wound to the head. He remains in critical condition, according to police spokesperson Roxeanne Vainuku to AP News.
“That is our initial determination, that the father likely shot all of the members of the family and then himself,” Vainuku said during a press briefing. However, she emphasized that ballistics and additional evidence are needed to confirm this theory.
Authorities have not yet released the victims’ names, pending notification of relatives. The deceased include the 42-year-old father, the 38-year-old mother, an 11-year-old son, and two daughters, ages 9 and 2.
The grim discovery was made on Tuesday when a concerned family member, unable to contact the household, went to check on them. The relative found the 17-year-old son wounded in the garage and immediately called police.
Upon arrival, officers discovered the mother and the two young daughters dead in an upstairs bedroom, while the father and the 11-year-old son were found in the living room. A handgun was recovered beneath the father’s body, Vainuku said.
Investigators believe the shootings occurred sometime over the weekend. Autopsies will determine the official cause and time of death, potentially providing additional details about the tragedy.
The surviving 17-year-old boy is believed to have made his way to the garage after being shot. “He sustained a severe brain injury and is not able to communicate with police,” Vainuku explained.
The concerned family member had reportedly been in regular contact with the victims but grew alarmed when communication suddenly stopped. Notably, police confirmed that there was no history of domestic violence at the home, no suicide note was found, and investigators currently have no known motive.
“We know people want to know why. We want to know why. But the truth is we may never know,” Vainuku said. “We don’t have any information as to why this happened; we have no history with this family.”
The devastating incident has left the community grappling for answers and mourning the loss of an entire family. Authorities continue to investigate the tragedy while hoping to piece together what led to this heartbreaking outcome.
