PUBLIC RELATIONS UNIT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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SLCPD Conducting Homicide Investigation in Ballpark Neighborhood    

SALT LAKE CITY — The Salt Lake City Police Department is investigating a homicide in the Ballpark neighborhood.

This investigation started around 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 18, 2024, when SLC911 received information about a possible death at a home near Van Buren Avenue and Main Street.

Officers arrived and found a 34-year-old man and a six-year-old boy dead inside the home.

This case is being investigated as a murder and death by suicide involving a firearm.

The 34-year-old man is identified as Samuel Owen.

Detectives believe Owen killed his son and then shot and killed himself.

The name of the six-year-old boy is not being released,  pursuant to Utah Code 53-25-101.

“This is a very tragic moment for our community,” said Salt Lake City Police Chief Mike Brown. “These are among the most difficult calls for service our officers, detectives, crime lab technicians, victim advocates, and social workers handle. My condolences and prayers are with those impacted by this loss.”

Detectives with the Salt Lake City Police Department’s Homicide Squad are leading this investigation.

The Salt Lake City Police Department’s Crime Lab Unit responded to document, collect, process, and analyze the evidence on scene.

This is the fourth homicide in Salt Lake City for 2024.

At this time, no additional information is available for release and the SLCPD is not conducting media interviews.

The Owen family is requesting privacy. The Salt Lake City Police Department is asking media to refrain from contacting them.

The Salt Lake City Police Department has the only full-time dedicated homicide squad in the State of Utah. The SLCPD’s Homicide Squad is responsible for investigating homicides, as well as attended deaths, unattended deaths, suspicious deaths, and deaths by suicide. Additionally, the SLCPD’s Homicide Squad is tasked with investigating missing persons cases and officer-involved-critical-incidents (OICI) from other agencies in Salt Lake County.

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