Utah shooting: how many people killed, did children die - where was the shooting?

Michael Haight killed his wife, mother-in-law and his five children
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A Mormon father killed seven members of his own family before shooting himself after his wife had filed for divorce, authorities have said.

Officials in the city of Enoch, Utah said Michael Haight, 42, killed his wife, mother-in-law and the couple’s five children. Each of the victims appeared to have gunshot wounds, it has been confirmed.

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The victims were found when police did a welfare check at the residence in Enoch on Wednesday (4 January). Police said they did not detect any threat to the public.

Enoch city manager Rob Dotson said the community was sent reeling by news of the eight bodies and that the deceased — all members of one family — were well known in the southern Utah town. No suspects are believed to be at large, Reuters reports.

In most of Utah, the predominant religion is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, known widely as the Mormon church. Governor Spencer Cox offered condolences in a tweet, writing: “Our hearts go out to all those affected by this senseless violence. Please keep the community of Enoch in your prayers.”

Here is all you need to know:

Who was killed in the shooting?

Michael Haight with his wife Tausha Haight. Picture: Tausha Haight/ FacebookMichael Haight with his wife Tausha Haight. Picture: Tausha Haight/ Facebook
Michael Haight with his wife Tausha Haight. Picture: Tausha Haight/ Facebook

Eight people, all members of the same family, were killed, Enoch city officials have said. It includes five children and three adults.

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The children ranged in age from four to 17 and included three girls and two boys, authorities said. The other victims were Tausha Haight, 40, and her 78-year-old mother Gail Earl.

Michael Haight, 42, also killed himself. The bodies were discovered after police conducted a welfare check, due to the family not being heard from for an extended time.

The children attended schools in the Iron County School District, officials said in a letter sent to parents. The home where the victims were found was decorated with Christmas lights and located in a neighbourhood of newly built single-family houses on a ridge overlooking the farming community of Enoch.

It has a view of houses with snow-covered roofs and mountains in the distance. Half of the surrounding street was cordoned off by police tape.

What have authorities said?

ENOCH, UT - JANUARY 05: The wind blows flowers, part of a makeshift memorial as a police crime scene trailer sits outside the home of Michael Haight on January 5, 2023 in Enoch, Utah. Haight, who was 42, is accused of killing his wife, mother-in-law and his five kids that range in ages from 17 to 4 years old with a gun. The police say there are no additional suspects and the community is not in further danger. (Photo by George Frey/Getty Images)ENOCH, UT - JANUARY 05: The wind blows flowers, part of a makeshift memorial as a police crime scene trailer sits outside the home of Michael Haight on January 5, 2023 in Enoch, Utah. Haight, who was 42, is accused of killing his wife, mother-in-law and his five kids that range in ages from 17 to 4 years old with a gun. The police say there are no additional suspects and the community is not in further danger. (Photo by George Frey/Getty Images)
ENOCH, UT - JANUARY 05: The wind blows flowers, part of a makeshift memorial as a police crime scene trailer sits outside the home of Michael Haight on January 5, 2023 in Enoch, Utah. Haight, who was 42, is accused of killing his wife, mother-in-law and his five kids that range in ages from 17 to 4 years old with a gun. The police say there are no additional suspects and the community is not in further danger. (Photo by George Frey/Getty Images)
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In a video statement on Wednesday night, Enoch city manager Rob Dotson said: “We don’t know why this happened. We’re not going to guess.

“Many of us have served with them in church, in the community and gone to school with these individuals. This community at this time is hurting. They’re feeling loss, they’re feeling pain and they have a lot of questions.”

Welfare checks based on calls to the police department like the one that led them to the residence where the bodies were found are routine when individuals are not seen for extended periods of time, Mr Dotson said.

The main religion in Utah is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, known widely as the Mormon church.

Where did the shooting happen?

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The tragedy happened in the town of Enoch in southern Utah - a state in the west of America. It is located 245 miles (394 kilometres) south of Salt Lake City and has a population of about 8,000 people.

Enoch was founded in 1851 by Joel H. Johnson, it was originally known as Fort Johnson and Johnson Springs but changed its name in 1890. The closest city to Enoch is Cedar City – one of the fastest growing cities in Utah, which is one of the US’s fastest growing states. Cattle and sheep line the highway that runs through the town, along with signs for “Custom New Homes” and advertising nearby recreational activities that southern Utah’s red rock-rich parks are known for.