WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah, Jan. 3, 2025 (Gephardt Daily) — West Valley City Police have shared the names of those dead after a double homicide and officer-involved shooting that happened Wednesday evening and was reported by the agency more than 21 hours later.
Those who died were 63-year-old Terri Bertelsen and 67-year-old Kerry Bertelsen, the mother and father of their suspected shooter, Erik Bertelsen, 35.
West Valley City Police spokeswoman Roxeanne Vainuku said in a prerecorded statement shared on social media at 2:51 p.m. Thursday that dispatch was contacted at about 5:12 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 1, and officers responded to the scene, on Enterado Avenue.
Officers entered the residence and found the bodies of two adults, now identified as Terri and Kerry Bertelsen. They also encountered the couple’s adult son, Erik, who lived in the residence. After events that have not been shared, an officer fatally shot Erik Bertelsen, the released video says.
Vainuku has not responded to calls from Gephardt Daily requesting additional details and clarifications.
The Salt Lake County Officer-Involved Critical Incident Protocol team is handling this investigation, the social media post says. The team led by the Salt Lake City Police Department will conduct the investigation.
The WVCPD social media post says the department anticipates releasing body-worn camera recordings of the exchange within 10 business days of the incident.
