An apparent murder-suicide in the tiny town of Enoch City, Utah, resulted in the deaths of a family of eight on Wednesday night.
Rob Dotson, Enoch City’s city manager, said the family was found shot to death inside their home on Wednesday, CNN reported.
“Evidence suggests that the suspect took his own life after killing seven others in the home,” said Dotson.
“Our hearts go out to all those affected by this senseless violence,” tweeted Utah Governor Spencer Cox. “Please keep the community of Enoch in your prayers.”
Police officers were doing a welfare check at the home in the rural community of 8,000 and discovered the dead family, Sky News reported. Five of the eight dead were children.
Michael Haight, 42, is the alleged murderer in the case, according to Dotson. He was an insurance agent, and his wife recently filed for divorce, KSL TV reported.
Dotson said the other two adult victims were Tausha Haight, 40, Michael’s wife, and Tausha’s mother, Gail Earl, 78. Three of the children killed were girls ages 7, 12, and 17. The two boys killed were ages 4 and 7.
“It is with deep regret that we inform you about a tragic loss to our school community,” the Iron County School District, where the deceased children attended school, said in a letter to parents on Thursday.
“This community at this time is hurting,” Dotson said in a video message. “They’re feeling loss, they’re feeling pain, and they have a lot of questions.”
Police are still investigating the murder-suicide. Members of the community who have known the family for years said they were active in the community and a “loving Latter-day Saint family,” KSL TV reported.
“What a tragedy,” Deidre Henderson, Utah’s lieutenant governor, posted on social media. “I’m praying for the community of Enoch tonight.”
The violence in Utah occurs at the same time as a rampant crime wave in Dallas, where the city council and other political leaders have chosen not to prioritize enforcing the law or protecting the public.
