HIDEOUT, Utah (ABC4) — Deputies with the Wasatch County Sheriff’s Office say they have recovered the gun believed to be used to kill a 61-year-old man in a road rage incident near the Jordanelle Reservoir about two months ago.

Patrick L. Hayes was found dead on the morning of Sept. 26 under what authorities called “suspicious circumstances.” Hayes was reportedly found near the Ross Creek Trailhead outside of his car on the shoulder of the freeway.

Based on the ongoing investigation, the Wasatch County Sheriff’s Office said Hayes appeared to have been involved in a road rage incident. Detectives believe Hayes may have left his car, approached another vehicle with a metal baton and pocket knife in hand and “aggressively called out the other driver.”

“Ultimately, the driver of the second vehicle appears to have shot and killed Mr. Hayes,” the Wasatch County Sheriff’s Office said in an update to the investigation. “At this time, we are analyzing evidence as to whether Mr. Hayes was attempting to enter the vehicle.”

While authorities have recovered the gun believed to be used, investigators did not disclose where the gun was found.

Investigators with the Wasatch County Sheriff’s Office said they have submitted further evidence to the State Crime Lab for analysis. Investigators are reportedly investigating all possible crimes and considering all defenses related to Hayes’ death, including homicide and the possibility of self-defense.

“Importantly, our hearts go out to the family and friends of Mr. Hayes. They have been cooperative, kind, and helpful throughout the investigation,” the Wasatch County Sherrif’s Office said.

The Wasatch County Sheriff’s Office did not provide any further information, saying they would provide another update once the results of the evidence analysis is available.

UCLA remained perfect at home as it dominated Southern Utah, 88-43, at Pauley Pavilion on Tuesday night.

The Bruins excelled defensively, forcing 30 turnovers, a mark it hadn’t reached since 2002. They racked up 15 steals, including three apiece from junior guard Skyy Clark and freshman guard Trent Perry.

Offensively, UCLA was led by senior guard Lazar Stefanovic, who finished with a game-high 19 points. He grabbed five of the Bruins’ 41 rebounds as well.

Other Bruins to finish the game in double figures in the scoring column included sophomore guard Eric Dailey Jr. (15 points) and junior guard Dylan Andrews.

UCLA jumped out to a 7-0 run to start the game, and after the Thunderbirds trimmed the margin to just 4, produced a 14-3 run to put themselves up 24-9 with just over 8-and-a-half minutes to go in the first half.

The Bruins kept their foot on the gas, stretching their lead to 23 going into halftime. They held the visitors to just 20 points through the first 20 minutes.

And UCLA still didn’t let up. It opened the second half with a 15-2 run that included 9 points from Andrews, 7 of which came consecutively.

With less than 7 minutes to go in the contest, a converted and-1 from Perry would give the Bruins their largest lead of the game — 50 points — while capping off an 11-0 run.

Perry finished with 9 points, five rebounds and five steals to add to his trifecta of steals.

Other notable outings from UCLA included those of sophomore guard Sebastian Mack, who totaled 8 points, two rebounds, two assists and two steals, and sophomore center Aday Mara, who tallied a game-high eight rebounds while adding 6 points, three assists, three blocks and a steal.

The Bruins made six baskets from downtown, half of which were from Stefanovic, who was perfect on all his attempts from beyond the arc. Overall, they shot 38-of-80 from the field.

Things will amp up for UCLA going forward as the team will begin Big Ten play next week, starting with a showdown with its old Pac-12 foe, Washington. The two teams will face off at Pauley Pavilion for the Bruins’ final contest of their six-game homestand.

That game is set for next Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. PST, 10:30 p.m. EST.

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During Monday’s press conference, Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham shared significant news about two key players, linebacker Levani Damuni and cornerback Kenan Johnson. Both have expressed their intention to return next season, a development that brings excitement and promise to the program.

Damuni had a standout 2023 campaign before a season-ending injury in April 2024. Known for his dominance, Damuni played in all 13 games last year, starting seven of them. He led the Utes with 87 tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks. His consistency was remarkable, registering double-digit tackles in five of his last six games. Damuni also tied for the team lead with 9.5 third-down stops, showcasing his ability to deliver in critical moments. Notably, he recorded a season-best 12 tackles in two games, including a top-five matchup against Washington and the Las Vegas Bowl against Northwestern.

Kyle Whittingham provides an update about his future at Utah

Johnson, another key contributor, started at cornerback in Utah’s 2024 season opener against Southern Utah. Unfortunately, his season was cut short due to injury, but his experience brings immense value. Before transferring to Utah, Johnson played 45 games with 11 starts at Georgia Tech from 2019-2023. In his final season at Georgia Tech, he started eight games, recording 29 tackles, two forced fumbles, four passes defended, and an interception. His defensive skills and experience will add depth and leadership to Utah’s secondary in 2025.

As Utah prepares to conclude its regular season against UCF on Friday at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN, the announcement of Damuni and Johnson’s returns provides a glimpse into a promising future for the Utes, setting the stage for continued success.