Duchesne sheriff releases more details of double-murder investigation

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ROOSEVELT — Detectives investigating an apparent double murder in Duchesne County said Thursday one person is believed to have killed the other, and then was possibly killed by other party-goers acting in self-defense.

On Nov. 1, about 12:15 a.m., the Duchesne County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call of shots fired at a house in Roosevelt near 1250 West and 850 North. When they arrived, they found Jon Reed Jr., 22, of Roosevelt, dead of stab wounds and Tyrell Sowsonicut, 23, of Duchesne, was shot to death. Both men are tribal members, he said.

The men were killed while attending a Halloween party at the house with 15 to 20 others.

Sowsonicut was found dead inside the house. Reed was found dead outside, near an entrance to the house.

The sheriff’s office has been investigating the case with assistance from Bureau of Indian Affairs police and the FBI.

On Thursday, the sheriff’s office announced that based on their investigation, detectives believe Reed went to the house and shot Sowsonicut. A motive for the shooting was unknown as of Thursday.

After Sowsonicut was shot, other party-goers stepped in. Reed was then stabbed. One scenario being investigated Thursday was that the other people in the house stabbed Reed in self-defense, the sheriff’s office stated.

Detectives were still trying to interview witnesses as of Thursday.

Sowsonicut had at least two warrants out for his arrest at the time he was killed, according to court records.

In 2015, Sowsonicut was arrested for the shooting death of a 20-year-old man on the Uintah-Ouray Indian Reservation. The shooting was determined to be an accident. Still, he pleaded guilty to criminal homicide and was sentenced to three years at a detention center in Yuma, Arizona.

Upon his return to Utah, he was convicted of assault by a prisoner in July. A warrant was issued for his arrest when he failed to show up for a court hearing in August, according to court records.