Murder-suicide in Tooele has police puzzled

STOCKTON, Tooele County — Investigators say they are at a loss for words at how a seemingly small argument escalated into a murder-suicide here over the weekend, leaving three children traumatized.

"If I had the answer to that, I could write a book and make a million bucks," said Tooele County Sheriff's Lt. Duke North.

Michelle Carter, 37, shot and killed Larry Van Camp, 57, Sunday night outside their home while the two were working on their semitruck, North said.

The air conditioner in the truck was broken, and the main part needed to fix it was missing, he said. Each person apparently thought the other was the last to have it, North said.

"They weren't yelling or screaming," he said. "They were just nagging at each other most of the day."

The two reportedly began arguing about noon. Between 7:45 p.m. and 8 p.m., while the two were still working on the truck, Carter shot and killed Van Camp before turning the gun on herself.

Neighbors reported hearing between three to four shots. The couple's three children were in an RV about 20 yards away watching movies with Carter's brother when the shootings happened.

Neighbor Gerald Johnson said he heard the oldest boy yelling as he ran out of the home.

Detectives did not believe drugs or alcohol were involved and said they did not have any reports of prior problems at the house, which the couple had been renting for about a year.

Van Camp had two children, a 10-year-old girl and 14-year-old boy, from a previous marriage. He filed for divorce in 2001, and it had not yet gone through.

Carter's 16-year-old son also lived with the family. All three children were staying with their grandparents Monday, North said.

"(The kids) are not doing too well. They're taken it pretty rough," he said.

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