One Family Found Shot Dead Inside Home, Including Five Children

Illustration. (Wikimedia Commons/Tony total)

JAKARTA - A family of three adults and five children were found shot dead Wednesday inside a house in rural southwest Utah, United States officials said.

Officers learned of a shooting death after responding to a request for a safety and condition check on a home in Enoch City, which is about 245 miles south of Salt Lake City, according to a news release from Enoch City officials.

All the bodies were found in the house, said the release, as reported by CNN January 5.

The investigation is continuing, with city officials saying they do not believe there is an ongoing threat to the public.

Enoch City Manager Rob Dotson said Wednesday night his community was grieving the loss of the family.

"It's hard to put into words the emotions that people who live here experience," says Dotson.

"We all know this family. Many of us have served with them in church, in the community and went to school with these people."

"So this community is hurting right now. They feel loss; they feel pain. They have a lot of questions, which is normal, and they are here to support," Dotson added.

Officials have not said when the deaths occurred or what caused the shooting. They also did not detail the relationship between the family members.

Officials also did not say who requested the safety and condition checks or when, and it was unclear what prompted the call.

Dotson noted it would take time to determine what happened inside the house. Investigators from Iron County, Enoch City and Cedar City are working together to find answers, he said.

"We will never know the mindset, the thoughts, of the individuals who went through this tragedy. But we can all pray that their families and neighbors will come to terms with what happened in this place, maybe in a day or two or maybe much longer," said Dotson.

Meanwhile, Utah Governor Spencer Cox asked the public to keep Enoch's community in their prayers.

"Our hearts go out to all those affected by this senseless violence," Governor Cox tweeted Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Utah Lieutenant Governor Deidre Henderson also offered his condolences in a tweet saying, "What a tragedy. I pray for the community of Enoch tonight."