Buried gun, rare ammo lead to arrest in Jordanelle State Park shooting

PARK CITY, Utah — An arrest has been made in the fatal shooting of Patrick L. Hayes at Jordanelle State Park in late September. Greg Kyle DeBoer, 62, was taken into custody on December 23, 2024, on the offense of obstruction of justice in a capital felony investigation, a second-degree felony.

The shooting occurred on September 25, 2024, during what police describe as a road rage incident. Surveillance footage revealed Hayes, 61, pulling into the Ross Creek entrance of the park shortly after 11 p.m., followed by a Jeep Gladiator. Hayes was fatally shot while standing outside his vehicle. His body was discovered the next morning. Investigators identified DeBoer’s 2020 Jeep Gladiator as being in the area at the time of the shooting, corroborated by cell tower data. During a November interrogation, DeBoer admitted to the shooting, claiming self-defense.

The State Medical Examiner’s Office performed an autopsy on Patrick Hayes and a single .45 caliber bullet was recovered from his body. The recovered bullet was a Winchester Black Talon, this is a bullet that has been out of production for at least 20 years and is therefore uncommon. Subsequent questioning of people who know Greg DeBoer revealed that he owns a Kimber 1911 .45 caliber handgun, which he frequently carries and that he also loads this gun with Winchester Black Talon ammunition.

DeBoer later directed authorities to his Kimber 1911 .45-caliber handgun, buried near his residence along with Winchester Black Talon ammunition.

Winchester discontinued sales of Black Talon ammunition to the general public in 1993 and ceased manufacturing in 2000. Wikipedia states that Black Talon ammunition was a controversial hollow point bullet due to its use in several mass shooting incidents.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, DeBoer acted with the intent to hinder, delay, or prevent the investigation or apprehension of a person by burying the handgun and ammunition used in the shooting death of Patrick Hayes. Court documents state that there is clear and convincing evidence that Greg Kyle DeBoer constitutes a substantial danger to others or the community, or is likely to flee the jurisdiction if released on bail. As a result, the court has ordered that DeBoer be held without bail.

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