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Stacey Butler Reporting...A 38 year old Park City man is dead from what police say was the result of an argument.
The news has stunned Park City residents. The last time Park City police investigated a murder was seven years ago when a Park City man shot his wife. Violent crime just isn't something police or residents are used to hearing about.
Chief Lloyd Evans/Park City Police Dept.: PARK CITY'S VERY FORTUNATE THAT IT EXISTS IN A FAIRLY NON VIOLENT ENVIRONMENT."
Park City Police and locals consider the lack of violent crime in their town with a kind of pride.
Kevin Decker/Park City resident: A LOT OF PEOPLE LIVE UP HERE BECAUSE THERE'S A LOW CRIME RATE, I DON'T LOCK MY CAR, WE DON'T LOCK OUR HOUSE."
There are some things police are used to investigating.
Chief Lloyd Evans/Park City Police Dept.: "PROPERTY CRIMES-THEFTS...WE LOSE SKIS..."
But MURDER in Park City is another story.
Chief Lloyd Evans/Park City Police Dept.: "WE'VE ONLY HAD THREE IN THE LAST 20 YEARS."
Earlier this week police say this Park City resident -- 35 year old Erik Low shot 38 year old Michael Hirschey to death during an argument in this apartment near downtown.
Chief Lloyd Evans/Park City Police Dept.: "THE POTENTIAL FOR A CRIME LIKE THIS CAN OCCUR ANYWHERE, ANYTIME."
But murder in a city known for shops, snow and Sundance, just doesn't fit.
Chief Lloyd Evans/Park City Police Dept.: “OUR VIOLENT CRIMES HAPPEN SO INFREQUENTLY THAT IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO CATEGORIZE OR PATTERNIZE THAT IN ANY FASHION."
"Stacey Butler/Eyewitness News: “THREE MURDERS IN TWENTY YEARS -- IT'S A CRIME RECORD MOST CITIES WOULD ENVY -- BUT THOSE WHO LIVE HERE IN PARK CITY SAY EVEN ONE MURDER IN THEIR QUIET MOUNTAIN TOWN IS ONE MURDER TOO MANY."
Ron Minschwaner/Park City Resident: “IT'S A VERY SCARY THING, WE LIVE IN A SMALL TOWN HERE AND BIG TOWN ISSUES ARE REALLY STARTING TO CONVERGE UPON US."
Renee Rezac/Park City Resident: UNFORTUNATELY IT'S A SIGN OF THE TIMES – I FEEL AS WE'RE GROWING-WITH A LARGER POPULATION THERE COMES A GREATER POSSIBILITY FOR CRIME."
Formal charges against Low are expected to be filed next week.
