Few answers in rampage that injured father of 9

Police continue to look for a motive for a seemingly senseless violent act last Friday that left a Panguitch man paralyzed.

"This incident is truly a tragedy for the Armstrong family, and we want them to know that the community is behind them 100 percent," said Garfield County Sheriff Danny Perkins. "Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this difficult time."

Police are asking why a 24-year-old man would allegedly fire four shots at point-blank range into the chest, neck and shoulder of 45-year-old Tracy Armstrong.

Jasson Hines is accused of shooting Armstrong at Armstrong's Blue Springs Lodge in Panguitch. Police say Hines was there with his girlfriend to meet his extended family for a family reunion.

He walked into the office minutes after his father and shot Armstrong four times, said Becki Bronson, public information officer for Garfield County.

According to police, he then taunted the bleeding Armstrong saying, "You're gonna die, and, "You're evil," then left to find Armstrong's 16-year-old son who had witnessed the shooting,

Hines went into the family's trailer and shot twice into the shower, but the boy was hiding outside and was unhurt, Bronson said.

Hines went back and forth from his car to the office, continuing to taunt Armstrong until the man's father hit him with a broomstick and forced him out of the office, which he then locked.

Hines' girlfriend got the gun, which Hines had set in his car, emptied the bullets and hid the gun, Bronson said.

After Hines was locked out of the office, he ran into a nearby campground and started yelling at and threatening campers and then allegedly tried to grab a child, Bronson said.

When Hines tried to steal a car, the owner of the car hit the panic button on her keyless entry key fob, stopping Hines, Bronson said.

When officers arrived, it took three sheriff's deputies and one Utah Highway Patrol trooper to subdue Hines, who was fighting them the entire time.

Hines is being held in the Garfield County Jail on no bail, Bronson said.

---

E-mail: sisraelsen@desnews.com