The Utah County Sheriff’s Office has determined that a ninth grade Utah student who died Wednesday from a self-inflicted gunshot wound during a school field trip shot himself intentionally.
The incident happened about 1 p.m. at South Fork Park in Provo Canyon. The shooting was witnessed by other students and faculty who were on the same field trip.
One of the outstanding questions for investigators was whether the shooting was an intentional suicide or if the gun was accidentally fired. On Thursday, the sheriff’s office announced that based partially on witness accounts, the shooting was intentional.
The investigation into where the student got the gun was ongoing Thursday. Information about the student has not been released.
No other students were injured.
The Alpine School District confirmed the student attended Canyon View Junior High.
“School administrators sent an email to parents of Canyon View students this evening explaining the next steps for grieving and healing. Those steps include offering counseling services to staff, students, and families for as long as needed. We know that adolescents can grieve, process, and recover better when they have a trusted adult to guide them,” the school district said in a statement Wednesday.
Classes will be held as scheduled on Thursday and Friday, but parent-teacher conferences that were supposed to be held Thursday were canceled.
“The administrative team at Canyon View has acted with the utmost compassion and professionalism. We are grateful for their love and leadership,” the district said.
Suicide prevention resources
If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, call 988 to connect with the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
Crisis hotlines
- Huntsman Mental Health Institute Crisis Line: 801-587-3000
- SafeUT Crisis Line: 833-372-3388
- 988 Suicide and Crisis LifeLine at 988
- Trevor Project Hotline for LGBTQ teens: 1-866-488-7386
Online resources
- NAMI Utah: namiut.org
- SafeUT: safeut.org
- Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: 988lifeline.org
- American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Utah chapter: afsp.org/chapter/utah