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A Millcreek man was acting out of concern for his family and his neighbors' safety when he followed a shotgun-toting home-invader suspect into a dark street — and into a shootout that left both men dead, Unified Police said Friday.
UPD Lt. Lex Bell, in updating the investigation into the early Thursday morning skirmish, said that Russell "Rusty" Reed Jacobs, 47, and his family were awakened about 2 a.m. Thursday when they heard someone trying to kick in the front door of their home at 3730 S. Twinbrook St. (3140 East).
Jacobs armed himself with a .45-caliber pistol and a flashlight and ran to the front door. When the pounding on the door stopped, Jacobs, his wife and their 18-year-old son went outside to see if it was a prank, but they found no one in their yard. However, they noticed shoe prints on the door, indicating someone had tried to kick it in.
Someone in the family called 911, Bell said, and Jacobs went back inside and got dressed. Then he went upstairs and traded his pistol for a .357-caliber revolver, which he reportedly felt more comfortable with. By this time, Bell said, Jacobs was concerned the incident had escalated to a real threat to his family's safety.
Jacobs went out into the yard again with the flashlight and spent several minutes looking around the yard without seeing anything. Then, out of nowhere, 34-year-old Jesse Lyle Bruner approached, feigning an injury to his leg and asking to come inside, Bell stated.
Suspecting that Bruner had just tried to kick down his door, Bell said, Jacobs stepped outside to confront the suspect and protect his home and family.
Bell said that Jacobs, who was involved in his community and LDS Church ward, knew of recent burglaries in the area, and that two homeless men from the neighborhood were thought to be responsible. One of these men was suspected to be Bruner.
After the alleged break-in attempt, Jacobs followed and pointed a flashlight at Bruner, who walked north in the street, Bell said.
At about three to four houses north of Jacobs' home, at 3693 S. Twinbrook St. (3140 East), Jacobs said something to Bruner to the effect that he knew who he was, Bell said.
Bruner then turned around and said something back to Jacobs while simultaneously producing a sawed-off shotgun from his side and shooting Jacobs, Bell said.
The blast hit Jacobs' outstretched left hand and flashlight first and then went into his chest. Jacobs then returned fire, firing four shots at Bruner, Bell said.
A bullet hit Bruner in the chest after first passing through his arm. Two other bullets went through Bruner's clothing without hitting him, and the fourth shot missed entirely.
Jacobs' 18-year-old son witnessed these events from close by and rushed to his father's aid, Bell said. Several neighbors also heard the gunshots and ran outside to help. One of those neighbors was a doctor who quickly conducted triage of the two victims.
Bruner was found to be deceased, but Jacobs was showing signs of life. Neighbors gave him CPR and treated his wounds.
Unified Fire Authority arrived and took over lifesaving efforts, but Jacobs could not be revived and was pronounced dead at the scene.
When police searched Bruner, they found a sawed-off 12-gauge shotgun, along with two large butcher knives tucked in his pants and a third smaller knife clipped to his pants.
"These two butcher knives were so large and positioned in such a way that Mr. Bruner would not have been able to run because he would have cut or stabbed himself in the legs," Bell said in a statement. "It also appears he tried to reload the shotgun after shooting Mr. Jacobs, but was stopped short after being shot."
Jacobs — who worked for Cambridge Financial Services — was the father of four children, but only his 18-year-old son was his only child at home during the shooting episode, Bell said.
Jacobs' wife, Jana Jacobs, was also in the home and was on the phone for a second time with 911 when the shootings occurred.
Bruner had a long criminal record, including convictions of drug-related charges and firearms offenses. He was sentenced to prison in 2001 for forgery and theft by deception charges.
The man was self-employed as a tattoo artist, according to a 2013 court affidavit. Bruner, whose face was covered in nearly a dozen tattoos, had been working for a Salt Lake City-based tattoo shop as recently as this month, according to his social media profiles.
Jacob's family members on Friday remembered him as a loving husband and father who would do anything to help community members.
"He was a wonderful person," said Lyne Miller, who is a cousin of Jana Jacobs. "He was a great example to his children. He was always there for his wife. He was wonderful in the community. He was loved and he will be greatly missed in the neighborhood."
Nephew Brian Stolk remembered Jacobs as a "very strong church member" who helped with the youth in the church. He said Jacobs' son, Josh, had told him recently about how his dad had taught him how to do things like use a chainsaw and change the oil in his car.
"He knows all these things because of his father and who he was," Stolk said Friday.
Stolk said a donation account has been set up for Jacobs' family at Zions Bank under "Russell Jacobs." He said the money will go to the immediate needs of the family, including his children, Josh, Julie, Shawn and Keava.
Bell said Friday that police recommend that homeowners stay in their home if they are confronted by a would-be burglar.
"Stay where you have some kind of cover and position of advantage," Bell said. "They can't see you there [in your home.] It's our job to come chase bad guys."
Twitter: @remims