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Team coveragePolice have identified the woman killed by officers in Lehi yesterday morning. Thirty-four-year-old Kelly Wark was shot by police after pulling a gun and firing on an officer during a routine traffic stop.
Wark was originally from Washington state but was living here in Utah and attending school at the Utah College of Massage Therapy in Lindon.
Her family in Washington told us, over the phone, Wark was a kind, gentle and loving person, and a great artist. They say for the past few years Wark suffered from severe mental illness but was beginning a new life here in Utah.
"She seemed to be getting along fine. She seemed to be enjoying herself, and she was, I think had taken some of her art to a studio. And she was really happy down there," said Gwyn Vukich, Wark's cousin.
Vukich says there was initial apprehension to Wark leaving Washington for Utah because of her mental illness, but her parents believed she was fine and say she was taking her medication.
At this point, much of what we know about Wark's behavior yesterday comes from observations of a clerk at the gas station from which Wark bought gas. The clerk actually called 911 and alerted authorities that Wark might be impaired and driving.
The clerk described Wark as somewhat distracted, slurring words and swaying back and forth. She said she appeared high on medication.
Capt. Harold Terry, the officer who stopped Wark in Lehi, is still in the hospital. Police say he was shot twice in the head.
"His condition continues to improve in the hospital. He's still down there. He's with family, and we're encouraged that his condition is improving," said Sgt. Darren Paul of the Lehi Police Department.
Lehi police say Terry underwent surgery yesterday to remove the bullet. They are optimistic he will come out of this OK.
Wark was killed on the scene by backup officers. Police told us today the autopsy has been completed and investigators are now awaiting toxicology results.
Kelly Wark's family is distraught about what happened. But they say they wish to offer their deepest condolences to Capt. Terry and his family. They issued a statement saying: "We offer our deepest condolences to the family of the officer that was hurt. Kelly was a gentle, kind and loving person, a creative artist with a degree in art & psychology from Western Washington University who was going to school for massage therapy. She had struggled with mental illness in the past years, and was on her way to beginning a new life.
Meanwhile, Terry's family also released a statement this afternoon thanking everyone for their thoughts and prayers.
The statement reads: "The family of Lehi Captain Harold Terry would like to thank everyone for their thoughts & prayers in this difficult time. His wife and children are very grateful for the outpouring of support we all have received. Harold is a strong man; a great and wonderful husband, father and grandfather. Harold is in serious but stable condition and he will have a very long, hard road to recovery. We thank you again for your thoughts and prayers and ask you to continue to pray for Harold. We would also request that you please respect our privacy during this time so we can concentrate on Harold's recovery."
E-mail: corton@ksl.com
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