Police announced Thursday that they are investigating a fatal shooting early Wednesday in Taylorsville as an apparent murder-suicide.
The two people found dead were 34-year-old Amanda Mayne, of Taylorsville, and 26-year-old Taylor Martin, of West Jordan.
On Thursday evening, Utah Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson confirmed that the victim Amanda Mayne — also known as “Mandy” — was her cousin.
“Our family is reeling from the devastating and senseless loss of my sweet cousin, cut down in the prime of life — a victim of the sort of violence that has become far too prevalent in our state,” Henderson posted on social media. “We are shocked and grieving. We will miss this precious soul and her golden smile.”
In a statement, a spokesperson with the lieutenant governor’s office said that Henderson will “talk about the tragedy of domestic violence in greater detail at the appropriate time for her family.”
According to Taylorsville police, officers responded to a report of gunshots in the area of near 3600 West and 4700 South at about 5 a.m. Wednesday. When officers arrived, they found a woman later identified as Mayne dead with multiple gunshot wounds lying on the sidewalk of a gas station, police said.
Shortly after, about a block away, officers found a man later identified as Martin dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to the police. Officers found a loaded handgun next to Martin.
Police said Thursday that Mayne and Martin had been in a relationship in the past, but had not been living together for more than a year. Neither had any court protection orders in place against the other, police said.
Martin had been restricted from possessing a firearm, police said, and investigators are working to determine how he apparently obtained a gun. The case remains under investigation.
Henderson on Thursday directed those who fear for their safety — or know someone who is — because of “stalking or intimate partner violence” to the statewide domestic violence info line at 1-800-897-5465.
Editor’s note • Those who are experiencing intimate partner violence, or know someone who is, are urged to call the Utah Domestic Violence Link Line, 1-800-897-LINK (5465), or the Utah Rape and Sexual Assault Crisis Line, 1-888-421-1100. If you or people you know are at risk of self-harm, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides 24-hour support at 1-800-273-8255.
