On the evening of May 21, 2022, Gregory Schaffer, a 42-year-old male, was shot multiple times on the front porch of his home in Springville, Utah. The incident occurred just before 7 p.m. at his residence located at 443 E. 250 West. When police arrived at the scene, they discovered Schaffer with several gunshot wounds. Near the front door, investigators found an empty DoorDash delivery bag and a gun on a flatbed trailer in the driveway.
The investigation quickly led to a suspect,
25-year-old Hunter Ryan Lamoreaux of Orem, who was a former neighbor of Schaffer. Lamoreaux went to the police station after the shooting, and his appearance matched the description of the person seen dropping the gun. His vehicle also matched the description of a car seen leaving the area shortly after the shots were fired. Upon questioning, Lamoreaux admitted to the shooting, stating to police that he believed Gregory "needed to die." He disclosed that he had been planning to kill Schaffer for two months.
The motive for the killing was reportedly linked to a contentious divorce and custody battle between Gregory Schaffer and his estranged wife. Lamoreaux told investigators he was upset about the situation and did not believe Schaffer deserved custody of his children. He claimed to have heard that Schaffer was emotionally abusive to his children, though he admitted he had no direct knowledge of any abuse. Court records indicate that a judge had granted Schaffer primary custody of the children in the weeks leading up to the shooting.
Lamoreaux recounted that he went to Schaffer's home, knocked on the door, and asked for a glass of water. After Schaffer provided it, Lamoreaux opened fire. He told police that his first shot misfired, but he "cocked it again and just started firing," losing count of the number of shots. He admitted to aiming for Schaffer's head and heart to ensure he could not be revived. Lamoreaux was subsequently arrested and charged with murder. Following a competency evaluation, a judge ruled he was competent to stand trial.
