A man in Utah killed his family over divorce

• Each person, according to Mr. Dotson, looked to have been shot.
• Authorities revealed that the wife had divorced on December 21.
• The village of around 8,000 people was in disbelief.

In the US state of Utah, a 42-year-old man shot seven members of his family before killing himself, according to authorities.

The eight-person family was discovered dead inside a rural residence in Enoch City on Wednesday evening when a welfare check was being conducted there.

The man’s wife, his five children, and his mother-in-law were among the victims, according to the police.

The village of around 8,000 people, according to city manager Rob Dotson, was in disbelief.

City officials said during a news conference on Thursday that insurance salesman Michael Haight, 42, had shot his wife Tausha, 40, his mother-in-law Gail Earl, 78, and his five children before turning the gun on himself.

Three girls, aged 17, 12, and 7, and two boys, aged 4 and 7, make up the group of five kids who were not given names.

The bodies were found by police at about 16:00 (23:00 GMT) on Wednesday, according to Rob Dotson, the manager of Enoch City. This was in response to a tip that the wife had skipped an appointment, which prompted a welfare check on the family’s residence.

Each person, according to Mr. Dotson, looked to have been shot.

Additionally, authorities revealed that the wife had divorced on December 21.

According to Tina Brown, a family friend, “Tausha was the most loving and generous person and she never ever said anything bad about anyone.” “She served people ceaselessly and would give the shirt off her back for anyone.”

Mayor Jeffrey Chestnut and other city officials showed emotion as they gave the media their most recent report.

Adding that the Haight family had been his neighbours, Mr. Chestnut stated, “It’s not often something like this hits really close to home.”

The young ones engaged in yard play with my sons, he continued.

A small agricultural community called Enoch City can be found in the state’s southwest, about 245 miles (394 km) south of Salt Lake City.

The five kids went to four different schools in the Iron County School District, which issued a statement expressing their sadness.

Since then, the school system has assembled a crisis response team and made therapists and counsellors available.

Governor of Utah Spencer Cox sent out a message expressing his sympathy to everyone impacted by the “senseless violence”.

A “tragic shooting,” according to President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden, who also expressed their condolences.

White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre stated in a statement that “less than one month after we marked 10 years since the Sandy Hook tragedy, another mass shooting has claimed the lives of five more children in Enoch City.”

Mayor Chestnut stated that the US National Guard, as well as state and federal governments, had offered their assistance to his city.

Also Read

Utah Teen Dies After She Was Hit by a Pickup Truck

A pickup truck hit and killed a 17-year-old girl who was walking...