Man dead, teen flown to hospital in attempted killing and suicide
May 18, 2022, 5:59 PM | Updated: May 19, 2022, 10:18 am
SPRINGVILLE, Utah — A teen girl, 17, was shot in what police believe was an attempt by a 20-year-old man — found dead — to kill them both.
Police were searching for and then located the pair in a car in Hobble Creek Park in Springville Wednesday afternoon where the man was dead and the teen girl was injured from a gunshot wound.
“There was some concern that there were some threats being made by him to her,” Lt. Warren Foster with the Springville Police Department said.
According to Foster, once a couple, the duo was having an argument over a break-up.
Police were looking for the two of them when the man’s mother told officials the pair could be at Hobble Creek Park. Foster said the pair was found in a car at the park and said it was believed the man attempted to kill them both.
“This is going to be a very difficult situation for a lot of people involved,” Foster said. “Unfortunately this is a real situation we have to deal with, including the community… so we will band together as a community, we’ll help the families through this.”
When found, the man was dead while the girl was taken by air to a hospital; as of 9 p.m. Wednesday, police say she is not expected to survive.
KSL TV has learned the 17-year-old was a junior at Springville High School.
“This is tragic. This is not the way we want to end school,” said Lana Hiskey, communications and community relations administrator for the Nebo School District.
Hiskey said counselors and a crisis team are at the school Thursday and available to help.
“We want parents to know if their student needs anything as far as support, that we have a good team here that will be able to visit with each of those. We understand that people grieve in different ways and we’ve asked our student body to be respectful of the different grieving processes. And honestly, our prayers and thoughts go out to these families,” she said.
Hiskey reminded students that the Safe UT app is available for anyone who may be uncomfortable or not feeling safe.
She also encouraged parents to be mindful of their children over the next few days and “watch for any signs of distress and be able to visit with them about the situation and be able to support their students.”
The identity of the 20-year-old has not been released.
If you are in crisis, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1.800.273.TALK (8255) or contact the Crisis Text line by texing TALK to 741741.
