CRIME, POLICE + COURTS

SLCPD investigating alleged homicide involving a child

May 19, 2024, 6:48 PM | Updated: May 20, 2024, 7:27 am

SLCPD emblem at the Salt Lake City Public Safety Building....

SLCPD emblem at the Salt Lake City Public Safety Building. A big change is coming to the leadership structure of the SLCPD. It will will replace the position of captain with the position of commander. (Nick Wyatt, KSL Newsradio)

(Nick Wyatt, KSL Newsradio)

SALT LAKE CITY — The Salt Lake City Police Department is conducting a homicide investigation involving a man and a child.

According to a press release, at 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, SLCPD responded to reports of a possible death at a home near Van Buren Ave. and Main St. in the Ballpark Neighborhood.

Once they arrived at the scene, officers found the bodies of a 34-year-old man and a 6-year-old boy.

Police have identified the 34-year-old as Samuel Owen. They are investigating the case as a homicide and death by suicide involving a firearm. Police believe Owen killed his son and then himself.

“This is a very tragic moment for our community,” said SLCPD Chief Mike Brown in the press release. “These are among the most difficult calls for service our officers, detectives, crime lab technicians, victim advocates and social workers handle. My condolences and prayers are with those impacted by this loss.”

SLCPD’s Homicide Squad is leading the investigation. This is the fourth homicide in Salt Lake City since the beginning of 2024, according to police.

If you or anyone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, call 988, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline or the Huntsman Mental Health Institute (1-801-583-2500).

Keep reading

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here.

Crime, Police + Courts

One man is dead after entering a Riverton gas station with a shotgun on Friday, police said. One ma...

Emily Ashcraft, KSL

Man killed after entering Riverton gas station with shotgun identified

One man who entered a Riverton Chevron Holiday gas station with a shotgun is dead after officials said an armed, unaffiliated person engaged with him.

2 days ago

This still image captured from video by a waitress shows the scene of a shooting that started at a ...

Sarah Raza and Ed White, Associated Press

New video shows gunman shooting victims at Idaho In-N-Out Burger drive-thru

Police released video Friday of a mass shooting that killed three people at an Idaho In-N-Out Burger.

4 days ago

A Utah County jury found Brandon Beckham, 50, guilty on two felony counts of forcible sexual abuse....

Daniella Rivera, KSL

Jury convicts former Utah Senate candidate in sexual abuse trial

After deliberating for less than five hours, a Utah County jury found Brandon Beckham, 50, guilty on two felony counts of forcible sexual abuse. Beckham was acquitted on a third count of forcible sexual abuse.

5 days ago

Image of a Costco location in Sandy, Utah. A California man accused of attempting to buy Nintendo a...

Pat Reavy, KSL

Charges filed in Costco ‘tap-to-pay fraud scheme’

A California man accused of attempting to buy Nintendo and Apple products at nine Costco stores in Salt Lake and Utah County with stolen bank card numbers is now facing charges.

6 days ago

An undated photo shows Dale and Reinette Schultz posing in front of a garden. Dale was shot and kil...

Garna Mejia, KSL

Utah man killed in Twin Falls shooting was ‘everybody’s hero,’ family says

The family of a Utah man killed in Saturday's mass shooting in Twin Falls, Idaho, said he was a talented artist, devoted husband, an Air Force veteran and someone who made everyone around him feel valued.

6 days ago

Dr. Anthony Fauci appears before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee at...

Eric Tucker, Associated Press

Senate committee votes to hold Fauci in contempt for refusing to answer COVID questions

A Senate committee has voted to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress and refer him to the Justice Department for potential prosecution over his refusal to answer questions at a hearing last week focused on his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

6 days ago

Sponsored Articles

Whether you are chasing pristine beaches, fresh raspberry shakes, or endless water sports, this spo...

Bear Lake

Road trip ready: How Bear Lake became the go-to destination for Western U.S. travelers

Whether you are chasing pristine beaches, fresh raspberry shakes, or endless water sports, this sponsored guide—brought to you in partnership with Bear Lake —uncovers everything you need to plan the ultimate getaway.

How Harper Clinic's IOP is changing the face of mental health treatment in Utah....

Harper Clinic

A new standard of care: How Harper Clinic’s IOP is changing the face of mental health treatment in Utah

As demand for mental health care continues to rise across Utah County, Orem's Harper Clinic says it is trying to close the gap with a more comprehensive approach to mental health treatment.

The weight of depression is real. Many people spend years fighting it, adjusting medications, manag...

Harper Clinic

Breaking free from depression: How Harper Clinic’s TMS Therapy can help

Breaking free from depression: How Harper Clinic's TMS Therapy can help.

mental health...

Andrew Adams, KSL

Library discussions bring men’s mental health to the surface

Therapists say it’s common for men to repress things like trauma, grief, stress and anxiety. Now, a new weekly series of discussions aims to help men bring it all to the surface.

...

Bear Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau

Cozy up in Bear Lake: Discover the magic of a winter getaway

SALT LAKE CITY – The holiday season shines brightest when time slows down and loved ones gather. Gifts, decorations and festive music come and go, but shared experiences tend to last much longer. Research supports that idea. Dr. Theresa E. DiDonato told Psychology Today that vacations can strengthen relationships by creating meaningful time away from daily […]

...

Harper Clinic

Rewriting the path to healing: Inside Harper Clinic’s whole-person mental health model

OREM — A few decades ago, you’d have had a hard time finding a doctor to treat both your mind and body; And a century ago, you’d have been hard-pressed to find a doctor to treat your mind at all. Today, medical professionals are understanding more and more the undeniable connection between the body and […]

SLCPD investigating alleged homicide involving a child