Note to readers • This story has been updated to include the names of the suspect and his parents.
A West Valley City police officer shot and killed a man who police suspect killed his parents on New Year’s Day.
According to police spokesperson Roxeanne Vainuku, officers were called to a home and entered at about 5:12 p.m. on Jan. 1, where they found a man and a woman dead.
The couple had an adult son, who police found alive in the home. The son lived there and police said they believe he killed his parents.
“During the confrontation” with the son, Vainuku said, an officer shot and killed him.
The shooting by police is being investigated as a Salt Lake County officer-involved “critical incident.” As such, a team with the Salt Lake City Police Department is independently investigating.
On Friday, West Valley City police released the names of the family via a post on X. The mother was Terri Bertelsen, 63, and the father was Kerry Bertelsen, 67. The son was Erik Beterlsen, 35. All three lived in the home, police said.
As of Friday, police had not announced any possible motive for the apparent homicides of Terri and Kerry Bertelsen.
Vainuku did not immediately respond to questions Thursday about the exchange that led to the shooting.
