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Utah father turns grief into action after son's accidental shooting death

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Utah father turns grief into action after son's accidental shooting death


COTTONWOOD HEIGHTS, Utah — After losing his 17-year-old son to an accidental shooting, a Utah father has transformed his grief into a mission to prevent gun violence through education and support for affected families.

Jeff Jarrett founded the nonprofit “Harley’s Angels” after his son Harley was killed 11 years ago. He said his son’s friend accidentally shot him with what they thought was an unloaded gun.

“He went to a little get-together over at his friend’s house. Somebody had a stolen gun, and they broke it out,” Jarrett said. “They were all passing it around, checking it out, and my son’s friends, when it was his turn to look at the gun, he thought it wasn’t loaded, and as a joke, he put it to my son’s head, and he thought it wasn’t loaded, and he pulled the trigger.”

That night changed his life forever.

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“I got a knock on the door to about 10 Cottonwood Heights police officers,” he recalled. “I remember pointing at them and just being like, ‘You guys are all a bunch of liars. My son can’t be dead.’”

Jarrett describes making the devastating call to Harley’s mother as “the hardest phone call I’ve ever made in my life.”

“Having to call my son’s mom and tell her what happened and hearing that scream on the phone — it was horrible,” he said.

For years after the tragedy, Jarrett struggled with substance abuse and suicidal thoughts before finding purpose in creating the nonprofit.

“Something sparked in my head. Something told me to start a nonprofit,” Jarrett said.

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The organization works with families who have lost children to gun accidents and supports individuals who have unintentionally harmed others.

Beyond providing support to affected families, Jarrett worked to pass House Bill 104, which requires Utah schools to teach gun safety. The legislation takes effect July 1 of this year.

Recent shootings in Utah have been particularly difficult for Jarrett, who empathizes deeply with families now experiencing similar trauma.

“I just look at the hard road that these families have ahead of them. It took me forever to find happiness again in this world. I’m here to talk to them if they need anything,” he said.

WATCH: Stepfather arrested for manslaughter in death of 18-year-old in Riverton

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Stepfather arrested for manslaughter in death of 18-year-old in Riverton

Despite his grief, Jarrett found room to forgive the person responsible for his son’s death.

“The judge talked to me, he was like, ‘Mr. Jarrett, how do you feel about this?’” Jarrett said. “And I told him… ‘One life was lost. What’s the point of two lives being lost?’”

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Jarrett continues his mission to educate youth about gun safety to prevent other families from experiencing similar tragedies.

“The conversations, feeling his presence, sitting down, watching a movie, going out to eat… all those are just thoughts in my head now,” he said.

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Editor’s note: This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.





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Utah Jazz jump to #2 in the lottery, plus full results

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Utah Jazz jump to #2 in the lottery, plus full results


In what has a chance to be one of the most important nights in Jazz history, the Utah Jazz jumped in the NBA Lottery to the #2 spot for the upcoming NBA draft.

Here are the final results, which show all the movement.

Aside from it being a massive night for the Wizards, Jazz, Grizzlies, and Bulls, it was a devastating night for a few teams, but no one more than the Indiana Pacers. The Pacers, in their trade for Ivica Zubac, had a stipulation on their pick that if the pick was top-4 they kept it. But if it fell below 4, they would give it to the Clippers which is exactly what happened. Now, the Clippers, who are without Zubac, find themselves with a #5 pick to build around.

For the Jazz this is a culmination of four years of rebuilding that ends with an extremely satisfying end. Utah will now have one of the tier-1 players from this draft: AJ Dybantsa or Darryn Peterson. The player Utah drafts will be one of their cornerstone pieces and will have the chance to not only play, but be a part of a team that will be competing for the playoffs this season.

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The Utah Jazz now have a Sinister Six core: Darryn Peterson (If AJ Dybantsa goes #1), Keyonte George, Ace Bailey, Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Walker Kessler (if he signs). It’s quite the core with a mix of youth and veterans in their prime. With this group, the Jazz will have a chance to be one of the top teams in the Western Conference. Yes, the Thunder and Spurs are going to be difficult to beat, but Utah has the mix of talent, coaching, and depth that could absolutely do the trick.

Now the Utah Jazz look forward to the NBA Draft that be on June 23rd. Let the posturing begin!!



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Provo’s new Boys & Girls clubhouse gives Utah youth more space to learn, grow and belong

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Provo’s new Boys & Girls clubhouse gives Utah youth more space to learn, grow and belong


PROVO — An organization that has been a beacon of hope for Utah children and families just got a big upgrade in Provo.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Utah County on Friday held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its newest facility, marking the start of a new chapter in providing support for those who need it the most.

The new Kent B. Nelson Clubhouse, 131 N. Olympic Blvd., replaces the organization’s former Provo clubhouse, which had been in operation for more than 50 years. Boys & Girls Clubs of Utah County leaders said they had outgrown the aging facility and needed a larger, more modern space to support more community members.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held for the Boys & Girls Club of Utah County’s new Kent B. Nelson Clubhouse on Friday. (Photo: Curtis Booker, KSL)

“This new clubhouse is more than a building — it’s a central place where we can coordinate programs, support our staff, and amplify our impact across the region,” said David Bayles, CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Utah County, in a statement.

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The organization’s mission was something the late former Utah County Commissioner Tom Sakievich was passionate about. His wife Marji and daughter Emily Sakievich attended Friday’s grand opening ceremony just as if he would’ve wanted to.

“He loved this project, and it meant the world to him,” Emily Sakievich told KSL. “This was actually one of the last places he went before he passed. (He) and my mom stopped by to just see how progress was going; he would be so excited to see this come together.”

The former commissioner died last December at the age of 72. Tom Sakievich resigned from the seat in September 2024 after being diagnosed with glioblastoma brain cancer.

Emily Sakievich said her father was a big supporter of helping children in the Boys & Girls Clubs feel supported while he was in office.

“He would have all of them come to his office and talk about how government works and how they can be a part of it someday,” she said.

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The new 20,000 square-foot facility expands on resources and programs offered at its previous site for community youth and families experiencing hardships.

The clubhouse will provide safe, engaging, and educational programs in a modernized building fit to serve more than 14,000 Utah children and teens.

A variety of programs including after-school, summer activities and STEM learning will be offered at the new facility. Other resources include internet safety programs, mental health support, nutrition initiatives, and housing assistance for families experiencing homelessness.

“We’ve been able to increase the capacity so much and add preschool and other things; we can even benefit more families — and we can benefit them for a longer period of time, from younger to older, where there are no gaps.” Provo City Council Chair Katrice MacKay told KSL. “So I’m really excited. It’s a fantastic thing for the city and for our residents.”

Leaders of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Utah County say the new $6 million Provo clubhouse was designed as a welcoming space where children and teens can explore new interests, build life skills, and receive mentorship from caring staff.

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“The Boys & Girls Clubs have been a cornerstone of youth development in Utah County for decades,” said Janet Frank, board president, in a statement “This new clubhouse strengthens that mission, allowing the organization to extend its reach and impact across the entire region.”

Friday’s event took place while children who attend the Boys & Girls Clubs were in school, so another ceremony for kids and their families is planned for the end of the month.

“The Boys & Girls Club is for every kid out there,” Bayles said. “We want to accomplish what every parent wants for their kids — we want them to have a safe place to learn and grow, to be successful in school, to build social skills and to go on and be great members of society.”

The Key Takeaways for this article were generated with the assistance of large language models and reviewed by our editorial team. The article, itself, is solely human-written.



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Three motorcycles crash on Trapper’s Loop in northern Utah

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Three motorcycles crash on Trapper’s Loop in northern Utah


Three motorcycles crashed on Trapper’s Loop in northern Utah, according to the Utah Highway Patrol.

Officials said one motorcycle traveling northbound on SR-176 near milepost 10 failed to maintain its lane while navigating a curve.

The bike crossed into oncoming southbound traffic, where it collided with two other motorcycles. Officials said all three riders were taken to a nearby hospital in stable condition. All were wearing helmets and protective gear.

Speed is believed to have been a contributing factor in the crash.

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