PROVO, Utah — A peaceful Provo neighborhood has been shaken by a string of gunshots heard early in the morning and late at night this week. Authorities are investigating the incidents and attempting to determine who is behind the gunfire, as local residents express growing concern about the rising crime in the area.
The incidents occurred along 600 South, between 1600 and 700 West, where neighbors have long enjoyed a quiet and safe living environment. Patricia Burnett, a resident of the area, spoke with 2News about the situation, explaining that while she hadn’t heard the shots herself, the news was unsettling. “This has been a really peaceful neighborhood. It used to be really safe,” Burnett said. Like many in the area, she was surprised by the recent gunfire and the uncertainty surrounding it.
The first report of gunshots came early Sunday morning, shortly after 5 a.m. Police responded to the scene and collected spent shell casings, later discovering property damage that seemed linked to the shots fired. However, the situation didn’t end there. On Monday evening, police received another report of a gunshot, followed by a review of camera footage that appeared to show a vehicle involved in the incident. A grainy image of the vehicle, along with some bullet fragments, are currently the only pieces of evidence available to investigators.
Janna-Lee Holland, public information officer for the Provo Police Department (PPD), shared that authorities are still working to determine whether these incidents are related and whether a single shooter is responsible. “Potentially, we just have no other information other than a very grainy image that we’ve released,” Holland said. The police have not yet ruled out the possibility that the gunfire may be connected to gang activity or a targeted attack, though they do not have enough information to confirm this.
Despite the lack of clarity about the motive or the person behind the shots, residents are increasingly anxious. Many have expressed fears about the rising crime in the area, which has traditionally been known for its peace and safety. “It scares me that there is so much, I’m afraid to even walk down the street,” Burnett commented. “You get to the point where you’re afraid to go out of your house, you’re afraid to leave your house.”
To address the growing concerns, the Provo Police Department has promised to increase patrols in the neighborhood. Authorities are also asking the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity, such as unfamiliar vehicles or people lingering in the area. “Just stay vigilant, if you’re in that area stay vigilant and just, if you have cameras already, maybe train them to look out front towards the road and if you do see or hear anything—suspicious people around the neighborhood or vehicles that keep appearing that aren’t normal to you—then let us know,” Holland urged.
Residents who may have relevant footage or information about the incidents are encouraged to share it with police through an upload link provided on the PPD’s website and social media platforms.
For now, the community waits for answers as authorities continue their investigation into the unsettling incidents in what was once a quiet neighborhood in Provo.