West Valley City, Utah – In a harrowing incident, five family members, including three children, were discovered deceased in their home on Tuesday. A 17-year-old male was also found in the garage with a gunshot wound and has been hospitalized.
The victims comprise two adults, an 11-year-old boy, and two girls aged 9 and 2, as reported by Roxeanne Vainuku, spokesperson for the West Valley City Police Department. The exact causes of death remain under investigation.
Authorities were alerted by a relative who had been unable to contact the 38-year-old woman residing in the home. Officers initially visited the residence on Monday without response and returned on Tuesday afternoon when the same relative discovered the injured teenager in the garage.
“Absolutely horrific. This is something that certainly will weigh heavily on investigators in this case,” Vainuku stated during a press conference. She emphasized that there is no current threat to the public, indicating the incident was isolated to the home.
Communication challenges with the hospitalized teen have hindered the investigation’s progress. Police are conducting thorough searches of the residence and engaging with neighbors to gather additional information.
As the community grapples with this tragedy, authorities urge anyone with pertinent information to come forward to assist in the ongoing investigation.
