One person is dead after a Monday shooting at the University of Utah put the campus on lockdown for several hours.
Police were still searching for a male suspect early Tuesday morning, focusing on the area east of Mario Capecchi Drive. That area of campus — which includes the school’s main residence halls, medical complex and research buildings — was locked down until about 3 a.m.
At about 8:15 p.m. Monday, a woman came to the campus and reported that her husband had assaulted her while they were camping in Red Butte Canyon, University of Utah Police Chief Dale Brophy said. While she was being treated for an unspecified injury just before 9 p.m., Brophy said, the woman’s husband killed a person in a carjacking at the mouth of the canyon.
Salt Lake City police say the suspect is Austin J. Boutain. The 24-year-old white male has tattoos of a cross and a teardrop on his face, as well as neck and arm tattoos, and was wearing all-black clothing — a coat, jeans and beanie.
Suspect in U of U Homicide is Austin Boutain, 24. Considered armed and dangerous. pic.twitter.com/hL7dZu7D8v
— SLC Police Dept. (@slcpd) October 31, 2017
Anyone with information about Boutain, including his potential whereabouts, is asked to call 801-799-3000.
Authorities declined to release the name, age or gender of the carjacking victim. They would not say whether that person was alone in the vehicle or whether he or she was a student at the university.
At least eight agencies — and hundreds of officers — from across the valley responded to the scene, including the FBI. The search was being conducted on foot and via helicopter. Authorities believe the suspect is in the foothills above Red Butte Canyon, but they continue to search the campus.
Traffic is blocked off near the area, and Utah Transit Authority trains and buses are not proceeding east of the stadium station at the west side of campus. Police were searching the Red Butte foothills and believed the canyon would be closed all of Tuesday.
The school tweeted at 2:54 a.m. that the campus lockdown had been lifted. Anyone needing a temporary place to stay should go to the east entrance of the Marriott Library.
The university said Tuesday’s classes were canceled.
CAMPUS ALERT: Secure-in-place lifted for all campus. Classes cancelled Oct. 31. Facilities & services remain open. Further info in email.
— University of Utah (@UUtah) October 31, 2017