Crime
17-year-old female killed in drive-by shooting on Iron County roadway
On the evening of January 17, 2025, Iron County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a 911 call reporting gunfire targeting a vehicle.
Upon arrival at the intersection of Midvalley Road and 4300 West, law enforcement and Gold Cross Ambulance found a 17-year-old female driver critically injured inside her vehicle.
Victim killed in Cedar City drive-by shooting identified as 17-year-old KayLee Joan Hunter
Deputies began life-saving efforts immediately while paramedics prepared for her transport to Cedar City Hospital.
Despite their combined efforts, the young victim tragically succumbed to her injuries shortly after arrival.
Crime scene experts and investigators from the Iron County Sheriff’s Office quickly arrived to process the scene.
Early findings suggest the victim’s vehicle was being pursued by an unknown vehicle for several miles before the incident.
The suspect pulled alongside the victim’s car and fired multiple gunshots, striking the driver. This caused the victim to lose control of her vehicle, which left the roadway, crashing through a vinyl fence before coming to rest approximately 100 feet northwest of the intersection.
The Sheriff’s Office is actively seeking information from the public to aid in the investigation.
Between 10:15 PM and 11:00 PM, investigators believe a small red pickup truck was being followed closely by a dark-colored truck or SUV on Lund Highway near 1600 North and Midvalley Road or heading west on Midvalley Road toward the Three Peaks Campground area.
Witness accounts or surveillance footage of this activity could provide critical leads.
Additionally, residents or business owners along Lund Highway or Midvalley Road with surveillance camera footage from that time frame are encouraged to contact authorities.
If you have any information regarding this incident or footage, please contact the following numbers:
- Iron County Sheriff’s Office: 435-867-7500
- Cedar Dispatch (Non-Emergency): 435-586-9445
The Iron County Sheriff’s Office extends its heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the victim during this difficult time. We also express our sincere gratitude to the Cedar City Police Department, Enoch City Police, the Department of Public Safety, Cedar City Fire Department, and the dedicated personnel of Gold Cross Ambulance for their quick response and assistance.
The Iron County Sheriff’s Office remains committed to ensuring public safety and pursuing justice for the victim. We ask for the community’s assistance in bringing the perpetrator to justice.
AUSTIN, Texas — A man was taken into custody Saturday afternoon following a shooting inside the Austin Central Library that left one person seriously injured and prompted a large emergency response and temporary shelter-in-place order in the downtown area.
According to the Austin Police Department (APD), officers responded shortly after 12:00 p.m. to reports of gunfire inside the Austin Central Library, located at 710 W. César Chávez Street.
Upon arrival, police and Austin-Travis County EMS units found one victim suffering from a gunshot wound.
The individual was transported to a local hospital in serious but stable condition.
Assistant Police Chief Lee Rogers stated during a press briefing that the shooter fled the scene before officers arrived.
After an extensive search, the suspect—identified as 55-year-old Harold Newton Keene—was located and arrested in South Austin at approximately 1:25 p.m.
The library was safely evacuated, and the shelter-in-place alert was lifted shortly after Keene’s apprehension.
Authorities emphasized that the shooting appeared to be an isolated incident involving only one suspect and one victim.
“This was not an active shooter situation,” Rogers confirmed.
Preliminary reports and public records reveal that Harold Newton Keene has a lengthy criminal history, including multiple arrests for assault, family violence, terroristic threats, burglary, drug possession, and evading arrest.
He is described by law enforcement officials as a habitual violent offender who has had numerous prior run-ins with police.
Records indicate Keene was previously arrested for threatening a man with a firearm several months ago and, in a separate incident, assaulted another inmate while in custody at the Travis County Jail.
In both cases, prosecutors later declined to pursue charges.
Authorities have not yet released a possible motive for the shooting or confirmed whether the suspect and victim knew each other.
The Austin Police Department’s Major Crimes Division is leading the investigation.
Anyone with information related to the incident is urged to contact the Austin Police Department or Crime Stoppers at 512-472-TIPS.