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SALT LAKE CITY — Charges were filed Thursday against a man who allegedly shot at his adult son.
Christopher Michael Conran, 60, of Cottonwood Heights, was charged in 3rd District Court with aggravated assault, discharge of a firearm and committing domestic violence in front of a child, all third-degree felonies. He was also charged with criminal mischief, a class B misdemeanor.
On Monday, Conran, who was "severely intoxicated," woke up his son about 4:22 a.m., according to charging documents. Conran began to argue with everyone in the house, kicked a hole in a bedroom door and hit the walls, the charges state. He then pointed a gun at his son and also his own head, according to charging documents.
The son ran out to his car, which was parked in the driveway, and got into the driver's seat. Conran followed, and while standing near the rear passenger door, fired one round "into his (son's) vehicle towards where he was sitting," the charges state.
The son, who was not injured, ran to a nearby gas station where he called police, according to the charges.
When police arrived, Conran's juvenile daughter climbed out a window and ran to officers, the charges state.
Conran came out of the house holding a handgun. After multiple commands to drop it, Conran "walked off of the porch with the handgun and finally complied and tossed the gun into the snow," according to the charges.
During a sweep of the house, investigators found "multiple guns and a large amount of ammunition," the charges state.
Help for people in abusive relationships can be found by contacting the YWCA's Women in Jeopardy program at 801-537-8600, or the confidential statewide Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-897-LINK (5465). Resources are also available online at udvc.org.
Domestic violence resources
- Utah Domestic Violence Coalition operates a confidential statewide, 24-hour domestic abuse hotline at 1-800-897-LINK (5465). Resources are also available online: udvc.org.
- Utah Domestic Violence Coalition: Utah's confidential statewide, 24-hour domestic violence hotline at 1-800-897-LINK (5465)
- YWCA Women in Jeopardy program: 801-537-8600
- Utah's statewide child abuse and neglect hotline: 1-855-323-DCFS (3237)
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233
Help for people in abusive relationships can be found by contacting:
