A 21-year-old Duchesne County man who was shot in the head while “pounding” on his neighbor’s front door died at a hospital Friday.
The 59-year-old neighbor allegedly fired a sawed-off shotgun through his door as he tried to answer it Thursday afternoon, according to a probable cause statement.
Kyler John Smith was badly injured when Duchesne County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrived. He was flown from the home, near 80 N. 300 East in Myton, to a hospital, where he died.
The sheriff’s office declined to say Friday whether or not they believed the man meant to fire the shotgun, which he told police he always carries to open the door.
The probable cause statement stated that “the shotgun went off” when the man answered the door, but notes the gun has two triggers that must be pulled simultaneously for it to fire.
Deputies found methamphetamine, marijuana, digital scales and paraphernalia when they searched the man’s home.
The man had a seizure and was taken to the hospital Thursday. He was released and booked into Duchesne County jail Friday on suspicion of manslaughter, possession of drugs with intent to distribute, having a short-barreled shotgun and other drug offenses.
Deputies have also arrested a man accused of threatening Smith with a pellet gun that looked like a “functioning high-caliber pistol” a few hours before Smith was killed.
That man, who is 19, was booked into jail on allegations of aggravated assault.
The Salt Lake Tribune generally does not identify people accused of crimes until they’ve been charged.
