Killing of the Haynie family

On January 17, 2020, 16-year-old Colin Jeffrey "CJ" Haynie shot and killed his mother and three siblings and injured his father in Grantsville, Utah. The incident was the deadliest mass shooting in Utah since the 2007 Trolley Square shooting that killed six including the gunman, and Grantsville's first homicide in nearly 20 years.^[1][2]

Killing of the Haynie family
Part of mass shootings in the United States
Location	Grantsville, Utah, United States
Date	January 17, 2020 (2020-01-17) c. 1:00 – c. 6:15 p.m. (MST)
Target	Family members
Attack type	Mass murder, mass shooting, familicide
Weapons	Firearm
Deaths	4
Injured	1
Perpetrator	Colin Jeffrey "CJ" Haynie

Familicide

Police told reporters that Haynie allegedly shot and killed his mother and 12-year-old sister first at around 1:00 pm and waited to attack the others when they arrived home. They were shot multiple times in their heads, necks, and upper bodies.^[3] His 15-year-old sister was killed sometime after she arrived home between 2:00 and 5:00 pm, and was shot multiple times as well. When his 14-year-old brother arrived home around 5:17 pm, he was shot once in the head.^[3] Haynie shot his father in the leg when he returned home around 6:15 pm, but he survived.^[4]

After being shot, the father reportedly wrestled away the weapon, and was told by Haynie that his intention was to kill everyone in the house except himself, per charging documents.^[5]

Haynie had an older brother, who was at Utah Valley University at the time of the shooting and therefore avoided injury.^[5]

Legal proceedings

Haynie was charged as an adult in the 3rd District Court with four counts of aggravated murder, one count of attempted aggravated murder and five counts of illegal discharge of a firearm.^[6]

During his initial appearance in court, Haynie was ordered to stay in juvenile detention facility with a bail set at $4 million. He was also issued a public defender.^[5]

As he is a juvenile, Haynie cannot be sentenced to death or life imprisonment without parole. He faces a minimum of 25 years, and a maximum of life in prison with parole.^[7]

On July 19, 2022, Haynie pleaded guilty in the shooting.^[8]

Aftermath

In memory of the victims, yellow ribbons and signs were posted on trees and other objects around the neighborhood and town. Two online fundraisers had been created for the family, one through GoFundMe and another through a local market.^[9]

Shortly after the shooting, Governor Gary Herbert tweeted his condolences and urged adults with guns in their homes to make sure they were properly secured.^[10]

See also

• List of mass shootings in the United States in 2020

References

1. Lam, Kristin (January 22, 2020). "'His intention was to kill everyone in the home except himself': Utah boy, 16, charged with killing mother, 3 siblings". USA Today. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
2. "Boy kills four and wounds one in Utah's worst mass shooting since 2007". The Guardian. January 18, 2020. Retrieved March 5, 2021 – via Associated Press.
3. Geiger, Dorian (January 23, 2020). "Utah Teen Charged In Family Murder Planned To 'Kill Everyone In The House Except Himself,' Officials Say". Oxygen Official Site. Retrieved January 31, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
4. Carrega, Christina (January 23, 2020). "Police release horrific details of the 1st mass shooting of the year, identify teen suspect". ABC News. Retrieved January 25, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
5. Knox, Annie (January 27, 2020). "Grantsville killings: Teen answers murder charges in death of mom and siblings". Deseret News. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
6. Reavy, Pat (January 23, 2020). "Loss of wife, 3 children 'almost unbearable,' Grantsville father says". Deseret News. Retrieved January 25, 2020.
7. Reavy, Pat (February 4, 2020). "Grantsville teen appointed attorney in quadruple murder case". Deseret News.
8. "Utah man pleads guilty to killing mother, 3 siblings". AP NEWS. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
9. Glenn, Sydney; Ponce, Hector (January 24, 2020). "Community surrounds Haynie family with support, family says it's not going unnoticed". fox13now.com. Retrieved January 25, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
10. Christina, Carrega (January 18, 2020). "Police arrest juvenile accused of killing 4 people inside a home". ABC News. Retrieved January 25, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)