From Deseret News archives:
Father of 9 shot 4 times but survives
He is paralyzed; Las Vegas man arrested, charged in incident
The 45-year-old father of nine sat bleeding on the floor with bullets in his shoulder, vertebrae and lungs, waiting for paramedics to arrive and while police chased the shooter. Five hours later, he was at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in Provo, where doctors told him he'd be paralyzed.
But he's glad to be alive.
"I think it's a miracle that he lived," said Armstrong's sister-in-law Kristin Beckstead. "All the care staff, all the doctors, it's all brought them to tears. They couldn't believe that someone would do this to someone else, with no provocation. There was no good reason for this to happen."
Jasson D. Hines, 24, Las Vegas, the son of the man who was renting the cabin, is accused of shooting Armstrong. Hines was charged Wednesday with attempted murder with injury by Garfield County Attorney Barry Huntington.
Hines and his father went to rent one of Armstrong's six cabins at the Blue Springs Lodge Friday evening a few miles outside of Panguitch. Hines' father went into the office first and arranged the details. Jasson Hines walked in minutes later, saying he "wanted to kill someone" and started firing, said Armstrong's sister-in-law Robyn Wilson.
Beckstead said police told her the shooter's father picked up a piece of wood and tried to smack the gun out of his son's hands.
"(The father) was trying to stop his son, trying to take care of Tracy," Beckstead said. "I know their family has been destroyed by this. I feel so sorry for his family. It's ruined two family's lives."
Meanwhile, Armstrong's 16-year-old son had run out with a cordless phone to call 911. As paramedics rushed to the lodge, wife Lynn Armstrong heard the sirens go past her house and called to check on her son. She didn't know Tracy Armstrong was there, too.
"She got the message that Tracy had been shot and heard him saying he wasn't going to live, to call Life Flight and that he loved her," Beckstead said.
Recent comments
We were happy to finally be able to meet you this past week and see...
The Ipsons ... | Sept. 16, 2007 at 5:21 a.m.
- Murray to sterilize, release feral cats 10:55 p.m.
- Man charged with animal cruelty 10:53 p.m.
- No injuries after car strikes TRAX train 10:49 p.m.
- Teen hurt while riding on car hood 10:48 p.m.
- Boozer Western Conf. player of week 10:45 p.m.
- Chicagoan charged in Mumbai attack 10:42 p.m.
- 1 in 6 U.S. workers is foreign-born 10:42 p.m.
- News briefs 10:41 p.m.
- Ruling appealed in teen beating case 10:39 p.m.
- New St. George courthouse to open 10:39 p.m.
- Letters: Liberal because LDS
278 - Y. profs: Beck not all-knowing
260 - TCU to play Boise in Fiesta Bowl
203 - Hate not limited to 1 in-state rivalry
191 - Aggies shoot past Cougars
179 - Letters: Global warming a lie
147 - Cougars going back to Vegas
146 - Utah/BYU rivalry can be more civil
134 - George lost in rivalry hatefest
119 - Ed Smart 'appalled' at testimony
100
For the latest news in the health care debate and how it affects you...
Amazon.com, Target.com, Sears.com, Walmart.com, Kmart.com and...
Better defense Okur. I can't believe Fes has not played. There has to be...
My heart goes out to the daughters and son who have had to pick up the pieces...
The best way to cut state spending on health benefits is to have a single...
Tax food? Brilliant. At some point, you have to start trimming the fat out...
always nice to get some wrestling coverage. P.S millard county (delta and...
Locals think TCU is the greatest because they destroyed the y and u. Big...
Isn't arguing about who should be in the "championship" game a little...
Anonymous | 4:07 p.m I didn't say I have no impact on the environment....
I'm not a lobbyist, but I've been presently surprised how much feedback I've...
Boise's SOS is around 94 of 120. No way they beat anyone except for Iowa...


