Police searching for man targeted by suspect in Sgt. Bill Hooser’s death
May 24, 2024, 5:00 AM | Updated: 12:46 pm
The male driver of a silver sedan who police believe had their car stolen by the man accused of killing Santaquin officer Sgt. Bill Hooser on May 5. (The Utah County Sheriff’s Office)
SANTAQUIN, Utah — Investigators are putting out a call for help to find the witness they believe was one of the first people to encounter the man accused of killing Sgt. Bill Hooser, after the suspect, Michael Aaron Jayne, allegedly ran from the scene.
The Utah County Sheriff’s Office Thursday released surveillance photos of the witness, who was seen at the Maverik gas station on 725 E. Main Street in Santaquin on May 5.
Sgt. Spencer Cannon said after Jayne allegedly hit and killed Sgt. Hooser on Intersate-15, they think he jumped the fence by the interstate and went through the Maverik parking lot.
“There was a gentleman there who was gassing up his car, and [the suspect] made an effort to take that car from the guy,” Cannon explained.
He said the verbal exchange appeared to be brief and didn’t last long, but whatever the witness said to the suspect caused the suspect to move on.
Patrick Hayes was killed near Jordanelle Reservoir in a possible road rage shooting. Now that a timeline is known, police have reached out to the public for help.