ROY, Utah — A 58-year-old man was killed during an incident in Roy that sparked an overnight shelter-in-place order, leaving many people in the dark about what was happening.
Two people are currently in custody in connection with the shooting death of 58-year-old Kenneth Keller, the Roy Police Department shared.
Police were originally called to the area of 4200 S. Westlake Drive on Sunday after reports of two people breaking into vehicles. The report also said that a gunshot had been heard.
When officers arrived on the scene, they found Keller with a gunshot wound to the chest. Keller, who had confronted the two suspects, was transported to a nearby hospital, where he later died of his injuries.
Police said another person also confronted the suspects alongside Keller, but was not injured.
While one of the suspects was arrested near the scene, a search for the second suspect prompted the shelter-in-place order in both Roy and Clinton as a police helicopter circled overhead.
During the order and police activity, many people took to social media to ask what was happening in the neighborhoods.
The second suspect was eventually found in his home in a neighboring city, and the shelter-in-place was lifted at approximately 4 a.m.
Roy Police said they arrested 21-year-old Taylor Gardner on suspicion of murder, obstruction of justice, and possession of a firearm by a restricted person. Officials said he is considered the "primary suspect."
Court documents reveal that Gardner, following being given his Miranda Rights, admitted he was a felon on probation and had a gun at the scene.
According to Gardner, he was confronted by the victim and told that police were on the way when he attempted to run and was tackled by the victim. Gardner claimed his gun fell out of his pocket, and he reached for it and turned over with his finger on the trigger.
The second suspect has not been named. Police are working to determine what charges he may face.
"It sounded like it was right out my front window,” said Garrett Fasig, who lives in the area. “And it was, right there."
Despite not knowing much detail at the time, Fasig immediately sprang into action.
“The guy that was on the phone with the police already said his buddy was shot, so I just stayed with him and had him squeeze my hand, keep him conscious and keep him alert until the paramedics came," Fasig said. “I just wanted to help as best as I could, so just thanks to the first responders for getting here as quick as they did and doing what they could to help."
Other residents added that it's normally a quiet neighborhood, and they still feel safe despite the tragic incident.
“It’s a really good community,” Aimee Johns said. “There’s a lot of young families. I feel very safe in this community.”
The investigation into the incident is ongoing. Anyone with any information or camera footage connected to the incident is asked to contact Roy City Police. The department is also asking anyone whose vehicles were broken into to contact them as well.
