A 66-year-old Long Beach man drove more than 700 miles to Ogden, Utah, where he shot and killed his brother and set his home on fire before committing suicide in a shootout with police, officials said.
On the evening of April 27, white-bearded, heavy-built Jeffrey Roberts arrived at the home of his older brother Scott Roberts, a retired forestry professor, in a brown van, officials said.
Police said Jeffrey Roberts was armed with a 9 mm handgun and a total of 23 fully loaded handgun magazines that police later photographed at the scene.
According to a statement released by the Weber County Attorney’s Office, Scott Roberts and his wife Jodie were having dinner alone when Jeffrey Roberts rang the doorbell.
In a video captured by a doorbell camera on the front of the house, Jeffrey quietly tells his brother that he came to see his mother. After Scott says his mother is not there, Jeffrey pulls out a gun and enters the house and begins firing.
A few minutes later, Jeffrey left the house and quickly returned with a 12-gauge shotgun and a brown duffel bag.
Police were alerted to the incident by a 911 call from a neighbor who heard gunshots coming from his home. According to the Webber County Attorney’s Office, Jeffrey Roberts began shooting officers as soon as they arrived.
Officials said a total of five police officers were dispatched to the scene and three responded. Jeffrey Roberts died from his head injuries in the shootout.
Video from one of the police officers’ body cameras shows thick black smoke pouring out of the house as a result of the fire Jeffrey started using road flares.
Police officials later declared Scott Roberts dead of a gunshot wound.Scott’s wife was also shot and is being treated.
Kelsey Turner, daughter of Scott Roberts, wrote, “My mother is alive because my father fought my uncle and told my mother to run away.” GoFundMe page She set it up for her mother. She said, “We are somewhat comforted to know that her father died a hero.”
Turner, who described Jeffrey Roberts as his father’s “estranged brother,” said the GoFundMe page was meant to help his mother buy essential items after she lost her clothes and personal items in the fire. We are able to recover some things from the house, but it is said that most of the house was destroyed,” she wrote.
Dozens of Scott Roberts’ former students, friends and colleagues have expressed their condolences on this page, describing him as a man of wisdom, warmth and humor.
“Scott, your knowledge and wisdom were astounding, but your sense of humor knew no bounds. Many will miss you,” wrote one well-wisher.
An investigation by the Weber County Military Investigation Team is ongoing.
This story originally appeared los angeles times.
