Police: Gun in Brigham City murder-suicide borrowed from friend

The gun Michael Woodruff used to kill his 16-year-old step-daughter and then himself earlier this week was borrowed from a friend the day of the shooting, police believe.

Brigham City Police Lt. Michael Nelsen said Woodruff, 45, had met with a friend Tuesday prior to the apparent murder-suicide and borrowed a .40-caliber Glock pistol.

The friend called police on Wednesday after hearing about Woodruff's death, fearing the gun used may have been his.

"He had thought nothing of it," Nelsen said of the gun owner. "He had done it many times before. They had been shooting several times together before, and it is very common that he has borrowed the gun before."

But Nelsen said the gun owner had no idea Woodruff would use his weapon to allegedly kill Alix Norman, a family dog and Woodruff, himself, in their Brigham City home.

"He thought nothing of it whatsoever," Nelsen said of the gun owner. "He was just distraught, completely distraught."

Norman's mother discovered the bodies in different rooms of her home — at 545 N. 100 East — about 5:30 p.m. Tuesday. Police described the scene as a murder-suicide carried out by Woodruff.

Nelsen said Thursday that autopsies revealed that Norman and Woodruff each were shot twice. Nelsen said police believe the first shot Woodruff fired at himself was non-life-threatening.

No motive as to what sparked the shootings was established as of Thursday, Nelsen said. He said police have never been called to the home on domestic violence complaints, or for any other matter.

A statement from the Woodruff family, obtained by KUTV 2News said: "The events of yesterday have left many of us wondering, with no real way to get answers aside from the obscurity of police reports and speculation.

"The tragedy that ended in the deaths of Mike Woodruff and Alix Norman have left us all stunned. At this time we wish to express our love for Chrishell [Alix's mother] and of Alix herself.

"We wish that something could have been done to change the outcome, but we are stuck with these very real results. All we know is that time will heal the hurt. Faith, family and friends can too. We love you and we will miss you our brother Mike and niece Alix."

jmiller@sltrib.com

Twitter: @jm_miller