Salt Lake police arrest man accused of trying to kill future stepfather

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SALT LAKE CITY — A man accused of trying to kill his future stepfather in Salt Lake City over the weekend and then fleeing to Montana has been returned to Utah and booked into the Salt Lake County Jail.

Brent Haggard, 36, was arrested for investigation of attempted aggravated murder, aggravated burglary and aggravated assault.

At 4:25 p.m. Sunday, dispatchers were alerted to a "domestic disturbance involving a weapon" at a home near Liberty Park, Salt Lake police said in a statement.

Officers went to the home and found a man, 65, "covered in blood" and they began performing lifesaving measures before fire paramedics arrived and took him to a hospital with life-threatening injuries.

As of Thursday, the man had been stabilized. His current condition was not disclosed.

Police say Haggard had gone to his mother's house in the 800 block of Lake Street, and the victim answered the door.

"Brent confronted (the victim) and accused (him) of sexually exploiting (his mother). Brent produced a silver hunting knife and stabbed (the victim) in the chest" while stating, "I'm going to kill you," according to a police booking affidavit.

The man fell to the floor and tried to kick Haggard away, "at which time Brent cut (the victim) on both of his legs causing severe laceration and major bleeding. (The victim) stated he was pleading for Brent not to kill him during the assault," the affidavit states.

While attempting to intervene, Haggard's mother was stabbed in the stomach, according to the affidavit. Haggard tried to get his mother to leave the apartment with him, but she refused.

Police say the injured man is engaged to Haggard's mother. Before officers arrived at the home, Haggard drove off and went to Great Falls, Montana, "and was only located after harming himself," the affidavit states without giving additional details about his injury.