In the small town of Nephi, Utah, the life of a young man, Ricky Lee Eldredge Jr., a 21-year-old Caucasian male, was cut tragically short on the evening of May 3, 2019. Emergency services received a distressing 911 call around 5:35 p.m. reporting that Eldredge had sustained a gunshot wound at a residence located at 880 N. 300 East. Police officers from the Nephi City Police Department, along with Juab County Sheriff's deputies and medical crews, were dispatched to the scene.
Eldredge, a resident of Levan, was immediately transported to a local hospital, but he ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
Initial reports from law enforcement were scant on details, describing the investigation as "active and evolving." It was confirmed, however, that the gunshot wound was not self-inflicted and that Eldredge did not reside at the address where the fatal incident occurred. The community was left with many questions as they mourned the loss of a young man known for his vibrant personality and love for the outdoors. He was remembered as a hard worker who was employed alongside his father at Doyle's Diesel, a free spirit who lived life to the fullest.
As the investigation progressed, it was revealed that the shooting was the result of a tragic accident. A friend of Eldredge's, 20-year-old Seth Clark Jolley of Payson, Utah, was handling a handgun in the presence of Eldredge and other friends. Jolley later admitted to authorities that he had been attempting to disassemble the firearm and, in a moment of negligence, pulled the trigger without first checking if a round was in the chamber. A bullet was discharged, striking Eldredge in the abdomen and inflicting the fatal wound. Following the investigation, Seth Clark Jolley was charged with negligent homicide and unlawful discharge of a firearm.
