DUCHESNE COUNTY, Utah — A 14-year-old boy is dead after he was allegedly shot by his 16-year-old stepbrother in Duchesne County, which police say may have stemmed from a fight between family members.
The Duchesne County Sheriff's Office said they were called to the scene of a "family fight" Sunday with at least one gunshot fired from a rifle. According to authorities, it was the suspect who called 911.
Deputies arrived at the home near Highway 87 and 5000 South and found the 16-year-old suspect outside, and his 14-year-old stepbrother deceased inside. The victim appeared to have a gunshot wound to his upper body, officials said.
The sheriff's office said no other family members were inside the home at the time of the shooting. The father of the home was reportedly at work at the time, and it's not yet known where the mother was.
Detectives are investigating what led to the deadly shooting. They confirmed that the case is being investigated as a homicide.
The juvenile suspect was taken into custody for questioning, then taken to a youth detention center in Vernal.
Officials are not yet releasing the boys' names because of the "sensitive nature of the incident."
"Just a tragic, tragic thing that nobody wants to see, and it's terrible for the family and all that are involved," Sheriff Travis Tucker said. "These are teenagers, and a lot of teenagers out here have access to weapons. We just need to educate, know what those weapons can do, hold onto them. If you know of anything, suspect anything with mental health or anything like that, it's always easier to secure the weapons."
