Provo Canyon resident fires shots at intruder in self defense, authorities say
Curtis Booker, Daily Herald
The Utah County Sheriff's Office emblem is shown Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024.A Provo Canyon resident fired several shots in self-defense at an intruder Thursday night after the man broke into a home and attacked the individual, police said.
The suspect, identified as Lance Hunter, of Aurora, Colorado, was captured shortly thereafter by authorities and taken to the hospital for treatment before being booked in the Utah County Jail, according to the Utah County Sheriff’s Office.
Hunter unlawfully entered an occupied home in the South Fork neighborhood around 8 p.m. and was verbally confronted by the armed resident, who tried to get him to leave the property, the sheriff’s office said.
Hunter reportedly pushed the resident out of the way and forced his way into the home, prompting other occupants to lock themselves in a bedroom. When again confronted by the armed resident, Hunter attacked the resident, prompting the resident to fire at him, striking him once, the sheriff’s office said.
Hunter fled the home and ran to a nearby aircraft hangar, where he stole a parked truck and began fleeing the area, but was stopped by sheriff’s deputies who were responding to the scene, according to authorities.
“The suspect has been taken to a local hospital for treatment and was released back into our custody and will be booked into the Utah County Jail,” the sheriff’s office said. “There were minor injuries to the resident who confronted the suspect. The suspect is a resident of Colorado and has no known ties to this area.”
Hunter faces charges of burglary of a dwelling, theft of a firearm, theft of a vehicle, and criminal mischief, each a second-degree felony. He was also booked on charges of vehicle burglary, a Class A misdemeanor, and assault, a Class B misdemeanor.


