ABC News December 19, 2024

Police believe a Utah father killed his wife, 3 kids and wounded 17-year-old son

WATCH: 5 Utah family members found dead at home

Five members of a Utah family were found dead by apparent gunshot wounds in their West Valley City home on Tuesday, police said.

A 17-year-old was found alive in the garage with a gunshot wound and transported to a hospital, Deputy Communications Director Roxeanne Vainuku confirmed to ABC News.

The deceased victims are all believed to be family members and were a 42-year-old father, a 38-year-old mother, an 11-year-old boy, a 9-year-old girl and a 2-year-old girl, according to police.

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Five members of a Utah family were found dead in their West Valley City home Tuesday.

A family member contacted police on Monday after not being able to get ahold of the woman who lives in the home, West Valley City Police Department said on X.

The police went by the home but were unable to make contact with anyone inside. After looking "in windows" and speaking to neighbors, when the officers did not "find any indications of an emergency or crime" they asked the family member to keep in contact, police said.

After the woman didn't show up for work on Tuesday, the family member who initially called the police returned to the home and entered the garage, finding the 17-year-old injured with an apparent gunshot wound, according to police.

"The bodies of the mother and the two daughters were located in a bedroom in the upper level of the home," police said in an update Wednesday night.

The bodies of the father and the 11-year-old son were located in the living room of the home, and a small handgun was found under the body of the father, according to WVCP.

"We believe this was the weapon used in the shootings, however ballistics and forensics investigation will determine that definitively," the police department posted on X.

"Officers also have canvassed the neighborhood gathering information and any video evidence," the statement continued.

Police believe this is isolated to the house and there are no outstanding suspects.