LEHI, Utah, June 4, 2024 (Gephardt Daily) — A man who was knocked unconscious Sunday in an alleged road rage attack has died, his family says.
“In a senseless act of violence, my husband’s brother, Michael Brown, was brutally killed while his two young children watched in horror,” says a fundraising account established by Cyndi Brown, who says she is the victim’s sister-in-law. The victim’s sons are 8 and 10.
“Mike suffered a traumatic brain injury and was life-flighted to the hospital. Despite emergency surgery and the doctors’ best efforts, they could not save his life.”
Police response
At 1:45 p.m. Sunday, dispatch was alerted to an unconscious male in the roadway near the 1300 West block of Main Street. Lehi City police arrived and found multiple people on scene “with one male, unconscious and bleeding from the head, in the roadway,” says an affidavit for the man arrested, John Jeffrey Williams.
The bleeding man, now identified as 38-year-old Brown, was airlifted to a hospital in critical condition. He could not be saved, his family says.
“Officers and detectives obtained video footage and witness statements,” Williams’ affidavit says. “The evidence gathered pointed to a road rage incident just prior to an assault between two male adults. One adult male, John Williams, had followed the victim eastbound on Main and confronted them near 1300 West.”
A news release issued by the Lehi City Police Department says it appears the victim had been cutting off and brake checking Williams as they both traveled east.
“The suspect followed the victim into a neighborhood where both drivers exited their vehicles and a physical confrontation ensued,” the LCPD statement says.
“The victim was injured during the short physical confrontation, and was Life Flighted to a nearby hospital in critical condition.”
Williams’ affidavit says the two exchanged punches before the victim fell to the roadway. Williams was not found to be injured.
The affidavit characterized the exchange as a road rage incident.
Fundraiser
Cyndi Brown posted the fundraiser on Monday.
“Both his children witnessed this horrific scene. Now, his beautiful wife, Mandi, is left to pick up the pieces and try to make sense of this senseless act. She and the children face a mountain of medical bills, years of counseling, and the overwhelming task of planning a funeral and figuring out their next steps.”
Brown said all funds raised by the GoFundMe account “will go towards medical bills, counseling for the children, funeral expenses, and helping them navigate this unimaginable tragedy. Thank you for your support and for keeping Mandi and the children in your thoughts and prayers.”
Brown also updated the account Tuesday with family pictures, including the one below, which is cropped here.
After the incident, Williams was booked into the Utah County jail for investigation of the alleged crime, aggravated assault resulting in serious bodily injury, a second-degree felony. As of Tuesday morning, the charges had not been changed to reflect a victim death.
Anyone who has more information on the incident is asked to call Lehi City police at 435-201-1005. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through the Lehi PD website. Click on the “incident report” link.
