In a tragic event, a 16-year-old student went on a killing spree, targeting his family members over a period of five hours.
The incident occurred in January 2020 when Colin Jeffrey “CJ” Haynie carried out a mass shooting at his family residence, resulting in the deaths of his mother and three siblings. Tooele County Attorney Scott Broadhead confirmed that Haynie also attempted to kill his father.
Haynie provided details of the gruesome events to the police after being apprehended at a local hospital. This marked the first instance of such violence in Grantsville, Utah, in twenty years, according to reports by ABC.
According to Broadhead’s statements at a press conference, Haynie admitted to killing his mother first around 1 pm, followed by his siblings as they returned home.
On the tragic day, Consuelo Alejandra Haynie, 52, and her 12-year-old daughter Maylan were fatally shot by Colin as soon as they entered the house. Broadhead disclosed that a handgun was used to shoot them in critical areas.
The sequence of violence continued as Haynie waited for his 15-year-old sister, Alexis, to return home from school. Between 2 pm and 5:17 pm, he fatally shot her in the head and upper body.
Upon the arrival of his 14-year-old brother, Matthew, Haynie ended his life with a single gunshot to the head, as stated by the prosecutor.
When the father returned home at approximately 6:15 pm, he was shot in the leg by his son. However, he managed to overpower Colin, seizing the gun from him, as reported by prosecutors.
During questioning at the hospital, Colin Haynie claimed that his son informed him about the deaths of his mother and siblings, expressing his intention to eliminate everyone in the house except himself.
An online fundraiser set up to cover the father’s medical and funeral expenses surpassed its $100,000 goal.
In 2023, Haynie, tried as an adult, pleaded guilty to four counts of aggravated murder for the deaths of his family members and an additional count of attempted aggravated murder for his father. He was sentenced to 25 years for each murder charge to be served consecutively, with the attempted murder sentence running concurrently.
Court documents revealed that Haynie’s actions stemmed from feelings of social isolation, conflicts with his father, and unmet expectations, leading him to believe that killing his family was the only resolution.
At the family’s funeral, Danny Haynie, a sibling who was not present during the tragic events, remembered his lost family members fondly in his speech. He expressed love for his brother and hoped for the best for him.
Colin Haynie’s presence was evident in numerous family photos displayed at the funeral, reflecting positive memories and cherishing the spirits of his deceased family members.
Danny Haynie emphasized the eternal bond of family, expressing confidence in a future reunion despite the tragic loss.
The funeral service featured four coffins adorned with floral arrangements, each representing a family member lost in the tragic event. The color schemes of the coffins reflected individual identities within the family unit.
In conclusion, the community rallied around the grieving family, emphasizing the enduring strength of familial ties in the face of adversity.
