On a summer evening in a quiet West Valley City neighborhood, the life of 37-year-old Chasidy Gerber, a Caucasian female, was tragically cut short. On June 26, 2018, Gerber and a friend, 33-year-old Martin Barron, were fatally shot in the backyard of a home where they resided in a trailer. The incident unfolded around 7:15 p.m. near 1400 West and 3350 South, sending shockwaves through the local community.
The alleged perpetrator, 23-year-old Kennedy Lund, who lived in the main house on
the property, emerged from the residence unclothed and armed with an AR-15 rifle. Another man who was outside with his children saw Lund approaching and took his children inside the trailer. Shortly after, Gerber and Barron exited the trailer. Without any apparent exchange of words, Lund opened fire, striking both Gerber and Barron. An autopsy later confirmed that Gerber died from multiple gunshot wounds to the chest.
Following the shooting, Lund walked across the street to a family member's home. There, a relative was able to disarm him after a brief struggle. Police arrived at the scene and surrounded the house, taking Lund into custody without further incident. Lund, who had no known prior criminal history, was arrested and subsequently charged with two counts of aggravated murder. Investigators at the time were unable to determine a motive for the sudden and violent attack, leaving friends, family, and the community to grapple with the senseless loss of two lives.
