A man who died in a Sunday shooting near Bear Lake was killed in self-defense by two people he wounded, police said Monday.
Police responded to a Garden City home over the weekend after they heard reports of a suicidal man who was shooting into the residence, according to a news release from the Department of Public Safety.
When they arrived, they found the man dead inside a vehicle that had crashed into the side of a mobile home, the release said. Inside, officers found an elderly couple with gunshot wounds.
“During the attack, gunfire was exchanged, and it is believed that is when the suspect was shot and killed,” the release said. A preliminary investigation has led officers to believe the elderly couple returned fire at the man “as a manner of self defense.”
The Rich County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Sunday that man with a shotgun had opened fire at the Sweetwater Trailer Park in Garden City, wounding a 72-year-old man and a 62-year-old woman.
Their injuries do not appear to be life-threatening, the release said.
The man’s motive for targeting the couple remains under investigation, according to the release. Attempts Monday to reach Sheriff Dale Stacey to learn the gunman’s identity; whether the shotgun had, as reported, been found next to his body; or what may have led to the gunfire were unsuccessful.
The families of the victims released a statement through the neighboring Cache County Attorney’s Office Victims Services branch asking for privacy:
“We would like to thank our friends and community for their outpouring of love and support at this difficult time. The victims are being cared for and currently recovering. We would like to thank law enforcement and the emergency responders who helped our family ... We ask that you please respect our privacy at this time.”
According to the release, 11 officers from three agencies were assisting in a joint investigation with the Rich County.
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