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LEHI -- Police say a man who shot and killed his wife and then shot himself left behind notes indicating what he intended to do. The man, 25-year-old Stephen Brad Davis, remains hospitalized in extremely critical condition.
Lehi police say Sarah Davis, 23, went to her in-laws' house to pick up her two children, ages 2 and 5, on Tuesday evening. Her estranged husband came out to her Jeep in the driveway, instead. They got into a fight. Police say he shot her and them himself.
According to police, the 9 mm gun used in the shooting was purchased by Stephen Davis on March 8.
Police say they found notes written by Davis inside his parents' home indicating he was suicidal and wanted to hurt his wife. They say it's unlikely the family knew of his plans.
Lt. Darren Paul of the Lehi Police Department said, "I don't know how aware the family was of the situation. Obviously they were separated, so I assume they knew there were problems. But I don't know if they knew his intentions were to harm her."
Police say the couple's children were at the home when their mother was killed but didn't see the crime. Neighbors like Joey Diregolo are prepared to help the children through the tough times ahead.
"We do whatever we can to help them," he said. "I guess try to bring back some normalcy to this neighborhood when we can, because right now it's turned upside down by this news."
Police received a call shortly before 9 p.m. Tuesday about an argument and gunshots heard from the residence located at 1891 S. 575 West. When police arrived, they found Sarah Davis sitting in the driver's side of the Jeep, dead from a gunshot wound to the head.
Police say they found Stephen Davis sitting in the passenger side of the vehicle with a gunshot wound to the head, but alive. He was flown to a local hospital.
A neighbor, Therese Spence, said she talked to Stephen Davis earlier in the evening, but she didn't notice anything out of the ordinary. She said he always seemed "angry."
Neighbors said they heard two shots in "quick succession." They said they did not know the couple well, but that there were often children playing in the backyard of the house where the shooting took place.
Police say the woman who reported the gunshots is Stephen Davis's sister, who was inside the home at the time of the shooting. Police say they think Davis had been staying at the house but are not sure if it was his permanent residence.
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Story written with contributions from Randall Jeppesen, Amanda Verzello and Shara Park.
