RIVERTON, Utah, June 28, 2025 (Gephardt Daily) -- A man was arrested overnight after police say he opened fire at his ex-girlfriend's father and her brother outside a home near 3500 West and 12350 South around 8:30 p.m.
Riverton police have identified the suspect as Tyler Michael Collins, 34.
According to a probable cause statement filed in Third District Court, Collins faces multiple felony charges, including:
- Felony discharge of a firearm with serious bodily injury, a first-degree felony
- 10 counts of felony discharge of a firearm, a third-degree felony
Court documents cite a witness report claiming prior to the Friday night shooting Collins had gone to an Ace Hardware store to buy bullets after running out of ammo the night before. The witness claimed Collins told her he loaded "the gun's magazine while wearing latex gloves," because "he was a felon and wasn't able to lawfully possess a firearm."
Photo: Gephardt Daily / Monico Garza / SLCScanner
On that same day, according to court documents, Collins became upset over a woman "doing makeup in her vehicle" causing him "to shoot at her vehicle" before fleeing the area.
Next, arrest documents say, Collins went to the house of an ex-girlfriend.
"Her father was at home and after not seeing (Collins) for approximately seven years, he refused to give him any information regarding (his daughter.) The ex-girlfriend's father told Collins to leave and that he was trespassing. Collins argued with her father as he began taking pictures of Tyler's car," the probable cause statement says.
"The ex-girlfriend's father called 9-1-1 to report the incident and (Collins) brandished a firearm by pointing it directly at his ex-girlfriend's father while he was on the phone with 9-1-1 dispatchers."
Collins drove away from the residence, arrest documents say, then "turned around, parked just down the street from the home, and approached the residence on foot. As he approached the home, he was running directly toward his ex-girlfriend's father with gun in-hand. (Collins) ran toward the victim and pointed his gun toward him, and began rapidly firing. (Collins) shot a total of 11 rounds.
"The ex-girlfriend's brother was aware of the situation and retrieved a firearm to defend his father and family, in case it was needed. He watched as Collins ran toward them and leveled his handgun at them.
"Collins began firing and the ex-girlfriend's brother returned fire from his own handgun. (Collins) began retreating while he was still shooting toward his ex-girlfriend's father and brother."
Photo: Gephardt Daily / Monico Garza / SLCScanner
One of the shots from Collins' gun hit a column outside the residence, Riverton City spokesman Josh Lee told Gephardt Daily.
The bullet fractured, "and one of those fragments hit the side of the head of the homeowner, which caused some major bleeding," Lee said.
"Paramedics attended to him. He's doing all right. They're non-life threatening injuries, and he declined to go to the hospital."
Arrest documents say Collins fired 11 shots before leaving the scene. Collins' car was later located by Riverton officers, Lee said.
"They followed him on Mountain View highway with assistance from officers from around the valley and a DPS helicopter, the suspect was safely taken into custody."
When he was in custody, Lee said, "he physically assaulted two officers, and charges will be screened against him for that."
"As well as the shooting, we also learned that within the last 24 hours, he had brandished a weapon in Taylorsville, and he is suspected to have shot vehicles up in the Heber Valley," Lee said.
"So, all in all, we are very grateful for all the assistance from officers, from agencies around the valley and which led to the safe capture of a violent felon."
Gephardt Daily will have more information as it is released.
