Parents from Utah were fatally shot during a home invasion as their young children slept upstairs.
According to a GoFundMe page set up by the couple’s friends, Katherine and Tony Butterfield were shot by an intruder as their three children, ages 4 and under, slept upstairs in their West Jordan home.
“Our hearts are broken as we mourn the tragic loss of Tony & Katherine Butterfield and are concerned what comes next for their three surviving children,” the family’s friends wrote on the page.
“In the early hours of Saturday morning, April 18th, an intruder came into their home and despite fighting for their lives, they were brutally shot and killed while their 3 children, ages 4 and under, slept upstairs.
“While we are so grateful that their children were not harmed, we are devastated at the loss of their loving parents.”
Authorities are now “working hard to bring resolution to this case,” said West Jordan Police, the Salt Lake City Tribune reported.
Officers responded to reports of a shooting around 1:15 am when a neighbor contacted 911 to report a woman screaming and sound of gunshots.
Police found Katherine’s body inside the house while Tony’s was in the yard. It seemed the husband and the intruder got into a fight and the attacker was wounded. It is not clear what the burglar took but he searched through the house and fled the scene.
Katherine was described by their friends as a ‘ray of sunshine with a vibrant smile and a beautiful singing voice; she could light up any room.’
Tony was described as a talented craftsman who ‘enjoyed doing renovations on his own home, building tree swings, and sand boxes for his kids.’
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