EAGLE MOUNTAIN, Utah, Dec. 12, 2022 (Gephardt Daily) — A 61-year-old man was arrested Monday following a shooting and a multi-hour standoff in Eagle Mountain.
Mark Samuel Roberts was arrested for investigation of attempted murder, firearms and domestic violence charges in the afternoon shooting on Kestrel Way near Eagle Mountain’s city center.
The shooting was first reported about 1:45 p.m., Sgt. Spencer Cannon, Utah County Sheriff’s Office, told Gephardt Daily.
Deputies arrived to find a 72-year-old man with severe bleeding from a gunshot to his lower abdomen, the sheriff’s office states in a news release. He was transported by medical helicopter to an area hospital, where he was in fair condition, Cannon said.
“The victim reported that Mark Samuel Roberts, who lives in the home, fired several rounds through a wall at him but missed. Roberts then stepped out into an open room and shot the victim,” the release states.
Several other people were in the home and “in Roberts’ direct line of fire” when he fired the handgun, according to the sheriff’s office.
“After firing these rounds and shooting the victim, Roberts retreated to a bedroom and would not come out,” the release says.
The shooting followed a dispute between family members, Cannon said.
“The suspect and the victim, I believe, are related by marriage. And there was some sort of a discussion or disagreement about things. The suspect thought that bringing a gun into play would probably be a good idea, but that’s never a good idea,” he said.
After safely getting the victim and other residents out of the home, deputies established a perimeter to keep Roberts inside the home, according to the news release.
“Because Roberts had a handgun, dispatchers sent a reverse 911 to nearby residents warning them of the incident and advising them to shelter in place until further notice,” the release states.
The sheriff’s office, which is contracted to provide law enforcement for Eagle Mountain, had dozens of deputies on the scene, Cannon said. With members of the Utah County Metro SWAT team, who come from various agencies, probably 60 or 70 officers were outside the residence, he said.
Alpine School District locked down at least four schools in the area during the standoff. Parents were later told they could drive over and pick up their children, but students would not be allowed to walk home because the ongoing SWAT operation.
Roberts initially did not respond to negotiators who tried communicating with him, according the sheriff’s office.
“This circumstance was of significant concern since rounds fired from a handgun can easily penetrate interior and exterior walls of most homes. And rounds had already penetrated interior walls in this home,” the release states.
About 4 p.m., Roberts left the gun on a bed, exited the bedroom and surrendered to SWAT team members, according to the sheriff’s office. The shelter in place order was lifted via reverse 911, and school lockdowns also were lifted.
“The guy came out with hands up, so we got things taken care of, and now they’ve just got to do the investigation on the shooting part,” Cannon said.
After being evaluated at the hospital, Roberts was booked into the Utah County Jail for investigation of:
- Attempted murder, a first-degree felony
- Two counts of discharge of a firearm/shooting in the direction of a person, a first-degree felony
- Two counts of aggravated assault/domestic violence, a second-degree felony
- Two counts of assault/domestic violence, class B misdemeanor
He is being held without bill.
