Utah shooting leaves five children dead in Enoch

Eight people, all members of same family, found with fatal gunshot wounds at home

Police tape surrounds the crime scene in Enoch, Utah, where eight members of a family were found from gunshot wounds, Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023. (Ben B. Braun / The Deseret News via AP)

The shootings have shocked the community, with residents saying the family frequently went to church

Officers attended the property during a routine welfare check

Investigations are under way, though authorities have said there is no wider danger to the public

No further details about the date of the killings or possible motive have been revealed by police

An American family of eight, including five children, were found dead at a Utah home on Wednesday after being shot, according to authorities.

Police made the discovery while conducting a welfare check at a home in Enoch, a city of about 8,000 people 394km south of Salt Lake City.

Enoch officials said Michael Haight took his own life after killing his wife, mother-in-law and the couple's five children.

Officials said the children — three girls and two boys — ranged in age from four to 17. The other victims were Tausha Haight and her grandmother Gail Earl.

“At this time, we do not believe there is a threat to the public or that there are any suspects at large,” city officials said in a statement on Wednesday. The investigation is ongoing.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre in a statement said President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden are mourning with Enoch.

“Less than one month after we marked 10 years since the Sandy Hook tragedy, another mass shooting has claimed the lives of five more children in Enoch City,” she said.

Enoch City Manager Rob Dotson said the community was shocked and that the deceased were well known in the town.

“Many of us have served with them in church, in the community and gone to school with these individuals,” Mr Dotson said in a video statement Wednesday night.

“This community at this time is hurting. They’re feeling loss, they’re feeling pain and they have a lot of questions.”

He also noted that officials planned on releasing more information as it becomes available and as the police investigation progresses.

“We won’t know the mindsets, the thoughts of the individuals who experienced this tragedy, but we all can pray that their families and the neighbours and all will come to an understanding of what happened in this place, probably in a day or two, or maybe longer,” said Mr Dotson, choking up at one point.

He said that welfare checks by the police are routinely made when people are not seen for a long period of time.

The five children attended schools in the Iron County School District, officials said in a letter sent to parents.

Utah Governor Spencer Cox offered condolences in a tweet on Wednesday night.

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