Armed southwest Utah man shot dead at neighbor's home

Washington County sheriff's detectives were trying Friday to unravel the genesis of a fatal shooting that occurred when an armed elderly Leeds man confronted and was shot to death at his neighbor's home.

Deputies and paramedics rushed to the southwestern Utah hamlet at 8:16 p.m. Thursday after gunfire was reported near Silverado Circle. There, they found 70-year-old Stephen Aizenberg dead from a gunshot wound.

Chief Deputy Shauna Jones said witnesses told detectives that Aizenberg, armed with a handgun, had walked from his house to his neighbor's residence. He then entered the neighbor's driveway, pointing the gun at the home's occupants.

The neighbor called 911, but before officers could arrive a male visitor at the neighbor's home, also armed, had shot Aizenberg.

"Detectives have been unable to determine why Mr. Aizenberg confronted his neighbor's visitors while armed," Jones stated Friday. "There is no evidence of any prior confrontations or conflicts between Mr. Aizenberg, his neighbors or their visitors."

Jones said the shooter, who was not arrested, remained on the scene and cooperated with investigators.

Detectives continued late Friday trying to find out what led to Aizenberg's actions. Jones said the results of their investigation will be submitted to the Washington County attorney's office for review.

remims@sltrib.com

Twitter: @remims