EAGLE MOUNTAIN — Police have confirmed that a man found dead in a paraglider crash Wednesday was Greg Kehl, a former Eagle Mountain elected official.
Officials say Kehl, a former member of the city council, took off in his motorized paraglider just after 5:20 p.m. and crashed around 6:15 p.m. in the area of 1470 N. 70 East of American Fork.
The crash did not kill Kehl. "Kehl died as a result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound," said Utah County Sheriff Lt. Dennis Harris.
Kehl's handgun is still missing and police hope to find it before a child does.
Anyone with information is asked to call police dispatchers at 801-851-4100.
Kehl left his home Wednesday night after firing a shot into the ground. He fired the shot because he was angry a neighbor, who saw his agitated state, wouldn't give him the key to the glider.
After firing his weapon, though, his neighbor gave him the key. Kehl took off in the glider with his silver .357 Smith and Wesson handgun.
Prior to the crash, witnesses said they heard something like a loud pop, Harris said.
Kehl served on the Eagle Mountain City Council from 2000 to 2004 and ran unsuccessfully for mayor in 2001.
Kelvin Bailey was voted in as mayor, but Kehl ended up fulfilling many of Bailey's duties after Bailey was accused of providing false information to police for faking his own kidnapping.