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A woman who shot her boyfriend to death during a domestic dispute has not been arrested but is keeping police apprised of her whereabouts, the Uintah County Sheriff's Department said Thursday in a news release.
Just before midnight Tuesday, gunfire was reported at an address just north of Vernal, near 2600 North 500 East, according to Undersheriff John E. Laursen.
Deputies arrived at a house where they found Curtis Dale Hardinger, 34, of Vernal, with a gunshot wound in his chest. He was rushed to Ashley Regional Medical Center, where he died.
His girlfriend, who police have not identified, shot Hardinger with a legally purchased pistol after he injured her, according to the news release.
She also was taken to the hospital and has since been released, according to the sheriff's office.
Two children who were home at the time of the shooting are now staying with relatives, the sheriff's office said.
Police are conducting an investigation to determine whether the woman has criminal culpability, said Uintah County Attorney Mark Thomas.
"Obviously this is serious, and it's being seriously investigated," Thomas said, "but there isn't sufficient information at this stage for us to determine whether there's criminal culpability."
Investigators are waiting to receive an autopsy report from the Utah State Medical Examiner's Office.
The news release said it was unknown when the Uintah County Attorney's Office will release their decision regarding pursuing potential charges against the woman.
Twitter: @Harry_Stevens