Sheriff: 1 shot, 1 stabbed in double homicide at Duchesne County Halloween party


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ROOSEVELT — Authorities in Duchesne County are investigating a double homicide after one man was found shot and another stabbed at a Halloween party near Roosevelt early Friday morning.

Deputies responded to a house near 1250 W. 850 North about 12:15 a.m. and found two men dead, according to a news release from the Duchesne County Sheriff's Office.

The men were later identified as Jon Reed Jr., 22, and Tyrell Sowsonicut, 23, according to Duchesne County Sheriff Travis Tucker. Reed was stabbed and Sowsonicut was shot, and both were dead when deputies arrived at the scene, Tucker said.

As of 10 a.m. Friday, deputies were still investigating the homicides and the bodies of the two men were still at the home, which is outside of Roosevelt city limits in an unincorporated area of Duchesne County, officials said. Tucker expected the investigation to continue at the home throughout the day.

Tucker did not say whether investigators had identified any suspects in the case as of Friday morning.

Tucker provided few other details about the deaths but said deputies had already conducted dozens of interviews. Between 15 and 20 people were at the party at the time of the deaths, he said.

Deputies were still looking to interview some other people in the case, and authorities do not believe there is an ongoing threat to the public, Tucker added.

Investigators have not determined a motive in the killings, the sheriff said. Deputies believe alcohol was involved in some capacity, he added.

Reed and Sowsonicut knew each other, but their relationship is not clear, Tucker said. When asked if there was any indication the two men were fighting each other, Tucker said he did not know that.

Tucker did not know how many shots were fired or how many stab wounds Reed sustained. There were some weapons recovered at the scene, he said, but he did not know what they were or how many.

The Roosevelt Police Department, Bureau of Indian Affairs police, and the Duchesne County Attorney's Office are assisting in the investigation, a news release said.

Investigators believe mostly tribal members were involved with the party and the deaths, Tucker said. He added that the house where the deaths occurred is known to sheriff's deputies and they have responded there many times before.

Anyone who was at the party or has information about the incident should contact the Duchesne County Sheriff's Office at 435-738-2424.

Contributing: Garna Mejia and Derek Petersen, KSL TV

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Linda Williams is KSL.com's early morning web producer. She joined KSL.com after many years at KSL TV. Linda graduated with a communications degree from Brigham Young University and now calls Idaho home.

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