Homeowner Speaks After Finding West Valley City Shooting Suspect In Shower
Feb 7, 2020, 9:36 PM
WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah – A West Valley City homeowner said he was surprised after finding a shooting suspect who fled a crime scene and entered his home.
Police said the suspect, identified as 40-year-old Jeremy Harris, had shot his ex-wife and her boyfriend just minutes before breaking into the home and hiding in the shower.
The home’s owner said the neighborhood is a quiet one and he left the door open for his son, who works late nights. He never imagined the person who came into his home Friday morning was a fleeing suspect.
“I just heard screaming and then I heard the shots,” said neighbor Steven Bleak.
Across the street, police said Harris came to the home of his ex-wife shooting her and her boyfriend, 40-year-old Nathan Edgar Brower.
“I’m just devastated, I’m just heartbroken because it’s my friend. I knew him since he was 10 years old. I have been here for 30 (years), so he has been here for his whole life also,” Bleak said.
Police found Brower dead on the front yard of his home on DeAnn Drive, near 3600 South and 6100 West Friday.
Harris fled after the shooting.
“He went to another home with no connection to him whatsoever, about three miles from here,” said Roxeanne Vainuku, public information officer for the West Valley City Police Department.
Minutes later, the suspect entered a home on Hawkeye Circle. Darren Wood was in bed around 6:30 a.m. Friday when he heard Harris come in.
He didn’t think much of the noise as he was expecting his son to come home from his night job. Wood said the man flashed a light in his face before going into the bathroom.
“About 30 minutes later, I got up and went to shower and found a gentleman with a shotgun in my shower,” Wood said.
Confused and thinking the man was his son’s friend, Wood took a picture of the suspect.
“He was sleeping on a sawed-off shotgun, he had a belt of shells,” Wood said.
Wood then grabbed his own gun, left his basement apartment and called his son, who said he didn’t recognize Harris.
Realizing Harris was a stranger, Wood called 911 and alerted the family members who live on the main floor.
“I told my niece and nephew to lock their doors,” he said.
Police used tear gas to disorient Harris.
“It wasn’t until the SWAT team came that he took his own life,” Wood said.
He added both his son and niece have children and they’re grateful to be OK.
“I’m lucky to be alive, you know. Obviously, he didn’t have any problem taking life last night and I don’t know why he didn’t take mine,” Wood said.
Wood said he thinks Harris might have been under the influence of alcohol or drugs and he found another shotgun outside the home.
Police said the woman is expected to survive her injuries and the incident is under investigation. She and Harris share two children who were home but were not injured.
