Break in fatal Jordanelle shooting case: Police recover suspected weapon

Photo: Michele Roepke // TownLift

'Prior to Mr. Hayes’ death, he appears to have been involved in a road rage incident where he approached another vehicle, and with a metal baton and pocket knife in hand, aggressively called the other driver out of the vehicle,' the sheriff’s office stated

HEBER CITY, Utah — Wasatch County authorities announced Tuesday that they have recovered a firearm believed to be used in a road rage shooting at Jordanelle State Park last September. The weapon was found after serving a search warrant related to the death of Patrick L. Hayes, a 61-year-old Hideout resident.

Hayes was fatally shot on September 25 at the entrance to the Ross Creek day-use area. According to Sheriff Jared Rigby, Hayes died from a single gunshot wound to the chest from a .45-caliber handgun.

Surveillance video from the scene shows Hayes getting out of his car and approaching another vehicle, described as a Jeep Gladiator, according to authorities. “Prior to Mr. Hayes’ death, he appears to have been involved in a road rage incident where he approached another vehicle, and with a metal baton and pocket knife in hand, aggressively called the other driver out of the vehicle,” the sheriff’s office stated.

The incident began near Kimball Junction on I-80. GPS data from Hayes’ phone showed he was driving at the speed limit 400 yards before the Kimball Junction overpass, taking 12 seconds to travel that distance. Hayes then slowed down after the overpass, and instead of continuing home on Shoreline Drive, he stopped at the Ross Creek day-use area entrance around 11:15 p.m.

The sheriff’s office is “analyzing evidence as to whether Mr. Hayes was attempting to enter the vehicle” at the time of the shooting. “We are fully investigating this matter for all possible crimes, including homicide, and considering all defenses, including self-defense,” officials said.

Evidence has been submitted to the State Crime Lab for analysis, with investigators awaiting results from both physical evidence and electronic data examination. Officials noted that Hayes’ family has been “cooperative, kind, and helpful throughout the investigation.”

The sheriff’s office said it will provide additional information once the evidence analysis is complete.