In a tragic incident, five members of a family, including three children, were discovered dead in their Utah home on Tuesday. A 17-year-old was also found with a gunshot wound and was immediately rushed to the hospital. The deceased included two adults and three children aged 11, 9, and 2, as confirmed by Roxeanne Vainuku, the spokesperson for the West Valley City Police Department. The cause of their deaths remains unclear.
The family resided in West Valley City, approximately nine miles southwest of Salt Lake City. The injured teenager was found in the garage of the house. Vainuku described the incident as “absolutely horrific,” acknowledging the emotional toll it would take on the investigators involved in the case.
The police were alerted to the situation by a relative who had been unable to reach the 38-year-old woman living in the house. The police visited the residence on Monday but received no response. The same relative discovered the injured teenager in the garage on Tuesday afternoon, prompting a second visit from the police.
Authorities have ruled out the possibility of a suspect on the loose, suggesting that the shooting was an isolated incident confined to the house. However, communication with the injured 17-year-old has been challenging due to his hospitalization, making it difficult to gather more information about the incident.
The police are currently investigating the scene and have been interviewing neighbors for any potential leads. They are also examining evidence from sources such as doorbell cameras. The tragic incident has left the community in shock, and the investigation is ongoing.