EAGLE MOUNTAIN, Utah, Dec. 28, 2015 (Gephardt Daily) — Utah County law enforcement officials have identified the man they say took his life Monday after an armed standoff with police as David Brigham Driscoll, 37, of Eagle Mountain.
Driscoll is suspected of the Monday gunshot murder of girlfriend Brittany Engstrom, 27, who lived in Orem at the Cherry Hill Apartments, 1675 S. 400 East.
At about 1:55 p.m. Monday, the Utah County Sheriff’s Department were dispatched to assist the Provo and Orem police departments in locating a man who was believed to be suicidal. Officers located Driscoll’s car by pinging his cell phone, and tracking him down at the parking lot of the Ranches Golf Course, 4128 E. Clubhouse Lane, Eagle Mountain.
Driscoll, a U.S. Army veteran who was armed, reportedly told a family member he intended to turn himself in to sheriff’s deputies at Eagle Mountain, but negotiations with officers on scene continued for more than two hours.
A news release from the Utah County Sheriff’s Department described the incident’s turning point.
“As it began to get dark, Utah County Metro SWAT officials became concerned that darkness would create an environment with greater risk that Driscoll would leave his car and attempt to flee the scene,” the news release said.
“Were this to happen it would create a significant risk to residents in nearby homes. Additional vehicles were brought to the scene to provide lighting in the event Driscoll chose to attempt to flee…. At about 5:20 p.m., deputies heard a gunshot they believed came from Driscoll’s car. When they approached the vehicle they found him deceased from an apparent self inflicted gunshot wound.”
The news release said Driscoll never directly threatened deputies, and no shots were fired by law enforcement.
“While Driscoll’s motive for taking his life is unclear, he was scheduled tomorrow, Dec. 29, 2015, to appear in 4th District Court for a preliminary hearing to address charges related to allegations he had sexually abused young children,” the prepared statement said.
Law enforcement remained at the scene after Driscoll’s death to investigate concerts that he might have had additional weapons or explosives in the car. Driscoll’s body was scheduled to be transported to the Office of Medical Examiner in Salt Lake.”
