EAGLE MOUNTAIN, Utah -- An Eagle Mountain man is dead after police say he was shot by his wife in their home late Friday night.
Officials have identified the man as 33-year-old Elwin Hitesman.
At approximately 9:50 p.m., dispatch received a call from 31-year-old Tiana Hitesman saying she shot her husband. When Utah County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the scene on the 4200 East block of 7500 North, they found a man dead on the living room floor.
Detectives also recovered a revolver from the scene. Investigators say two shots were fired, both hitting Elwin Hitesman.
"They then went into the house, when they went into the house they did discover a deceased male, obviously deceased in the living room. They also found a weapon that they believe was possibly used in the shooting," said Erik Knutzen, Utah County Sheriff's Office.
Police say Tiana Hitesman confessed to the shooting, saying it was in self-defense. She was interviewed by police and later released.
"The female was taken into custody and brought down here to the Sheriff's Office for some questioning. During the questioning she provided a statement, gave us some background and then later on, early this morning, she was released," Knutzen said.
Four children were sleeping upstairs when the shooting occurred, according to officials from the sheriff's office. The kids range in ages from 1 to 9 years old. The children were turned over to grandparents, authorities said.
"We don't believe they witnessed anything. We'll follow up with them, we are going to coordinate with the CJC, the Children's Justice Center, to hopefully interview or speak with those kids to see if they did in fact see anything or hear anything," Knutzen said.
There are no early indications drugs or alcohol were factors.
Officials say deputies have been called to the home in the past on multiple occasions for domestic issues. The husband was arrested about a month ago on domestic violence charges, according to the sheriff's office.
According to court documents, Elwin Hitesman was charged with domestic violence, a class A misdemeanor, in September 2010. The charge was later dismissed.
The investigation is ongoing and it is unknown whether or not charges will be filed. An official autopsy report will be released within the next several weeks.
