Highland man shot, killed in apparent accident
By Laura Sanderson
Deseret News staff writer
HIGHLAND — A 20-year-old Highland man died Wednesday after apparently being shot in the chest by a 16-year-old boy in what police believe was an accident.
Jason Paul Jones died at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center from a single .22-caliber gunshot wound to his upper torso, said Kip Botkin, chief of the Alpine/Highland police department.
"Our preliminary investigation does suggest it was accidental," Botkin said.
Botkin said the boy was sighting a .22-caliber rifle in his backyard at about the same time a projectile struck Jones, who was visiting his girlfriend next door. Jones was tying a family dog to a nearby shed when he was struck by the bullet, said Shawnya Wayman, who lives next door to where the shooting occurred and who spoke to the father of Jones' girlfriend.
Botkin said the incident remained under investigation Wednesday night. He said the matter of possible criminal charges is pending and that he expected to release more information today.
The shooting, which happened in the vicinity of 6800 West and 9600 North, shocked many neighbors who consider their neighborhood to be quiet.
"It's just horse property," Wayman said.
Playing with guns is not unusual for the area because many local boys like to shoot and hunt, Wayman said. "There are a lot of kids who practice shooting around here."
Deputies from the American Fork, Lehi and Alpine/Highland police departments responded to the scene where it was determined the incident had occurred just inside the southwest edge of Highland.
An officer on the scene speculated that the bullet may have ricocheted off something before hitting the victim.
Wayman doesn't believe malice was a factor. Both families involved in the shooting are pleasant and interacted casually, she said.
"They're totally normal," Wayman said. "They go to church and everything."
