Two dead in domestic violence incident in Midvale, police say

Family members grieve after two people were discovered dead in a suspected murder-suicide inside at Candlestick Lane Apartments in Midvale on Friday, May 1, 2020. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

MIDVALE — Two people were discovered dead in a suspected murder-suicide inside a Midvale apartment Friday following a standoff with a SWAT team.

The incident began just before 10:30 a.m. when police received reports of a domestic violence situation at the Candlestick Lane Apartments, 170 E. 7800 South. Unified police detective Ken Hansen said police received tips from “numerous sources” that a man in the apartment had communicated something that led friends to believe something bad had happened.

Police later discovered the man in the apartment had sent text messages and possibly even pictures indicating that a woman inside the apartment was deceased, Hansen said.

When officers arrived at the apartment and received no response when trying to contact people inside, Hansen said the decision was made to call out the SWAT team and evacuate some of the surrounding units.

At one point, crime scene negotiators were able to make contact by phone with the man inside the apartment. But about 1:15 p.m. at least two gunshots were fired. One shot went out the window of the apartment, Hansen said. It was not immediately known what that shot hit.

Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

A Unified police office investigates after two people were discovered dead in a suspected murder-suicide inside at Candlestick Lane Apartments in Midvale on Friday, May 1, 2020.

That was followed by a second shot. Police believe the man had taken his own life at that point.

The SWAT team used a robot to enter the house where a video camera was able to transmit images of two dead bodies. Hansen said it is believed the woman was dead before police arrived at the apartment.

The identities of the man and woman have not yet been released.

This story will be updated as additional information becomes available.

The National Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-799-7233 or the Utah LINKLine at 1-800-897-5465 for confidential assistance.

Anyone who is a victim of domestic violence or knows of a victim in Salt Lake City is encouraged to call police at 801-799-3000 and ask to speak with a victim advocate or call a 24-hour hotline at 801-580-7969.

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