Jerrad Jacobsen, a 16-year-old Caucasian male, died from a gunshot wound on March 18, 2019, in the Salt Lake City suburb of Kearns, Utah. Initially, his death was investigated as a possible accidental, self-inflicted shooting. He was found deceased in a bedroom of a home at 5007 W. 5400 South.
The narrative of an accident began to shift as police continued their investigation. Three days after the shooting, authorities arrested Jerrad's 15-year-old stepbrother.
An autopsy revealed that the wound on Jerrad's head was likely an entrance wound from a downward angle, which contradicted the initial theory of a self-inflicted accident. During a second interview with police, the stepbrother admitted to pointing the shotgun at Jerrad and pulling the trigger, stating he believed the weapon was unloaded. He had gone to his stepbrother's house that day to borrow clothes and to smoke.
The stepbrother, who has not been named publicly, was subsequently charged with manslaughter, a second-degree felony, and obstructing justice. In June 2019, he pleaded guilty to manslaughter as part of a plea agreement. In exchange for his plea, the charges of obstructing justice and damaging a jail were dismissed. He expressed remorse for his actions, stating he would regret it for the rest of his life.
During the sentencing, Jerrad's mother expressed her profound grief and questioned the plea deal, stating she believed the act was not an accident. The judge ordered the teen to serve an indefinite term in a secure juvenile detention facility. Jerrad's mother mentioned her disagreement with a potential sentence of only three to six months in detention. The teenager also admitted to being under the influence of drugs at the time of the incident.
