Teen ‘executed’ mum and siblings in five-hour murder-spree before dad came home

WARNING, DISTRESSING CONTENT Colin Jeffrey ‘CJ’ Haynie carried out a mass shooting at his Utah family home, killing his mother and three siblings in a five-hour execution

In a shocking and devastating incident, a 16-year-old school pupil murdered his family members during a horrific five-hour killing spree.

In January 2020, Colin Jeffrey “CJ” Haynie unleashed terror at his family home, fatally shooting his mother and three siblings while also trying to murder his father, according to Tooele County Attorney Scott Broadhead.

Following his arrest at a nearby hospital, Haynie confessed to police officers about the sequence of events that unfolded. The killings marked the first homicides in two decades for the quiet Utah community of Grantsville, reports abc.

“The defendant stated that he had killed his mother first at about 1pm He then said he killed the others as they returned home,” Broadhead said during a press briefing.

Consuelo Alejandra Haynie, 52, had collected her 12-year-old daughter Maylan from school on that tragic afternoon, and both were shot dead immediately upon entering their home.

Haynie allegedly fired multiple rounds from a handgun, striking them in the head, neck and upper torso regions, Broadhead explained, reports the Mirror.

Colin Haynie then waited inside the property for an hour until his 15-year-old sister Alexis returned from school. Authorities confirmed he fatally shot his sister in the head and upper body sometime between 2pm and 5:17pm.

When 14-year-old Matthew arrived home, Haynie executed his younger brother with a single gunshot to the head, the prosecutor stated.

His father sustained a leg wound when he came home around 6:15pm, before wrestling with his son and managing to wrench the weapon from his grasp, prosecutors confirmed.

Colin Haynie revealed to investigators at the hospital that his son allegedly confessed to him that “his mother and other siblings were dead and that his intention was to kill everyone in the house except himself.”

An online fundraiser set up to cover the father’s medical costs and funeral expenses exceeded its target of $100,000.

Haynie faced trial as an adult in 2023 where he pleaded guilty to four counts of aggravated murder for the deaths of his family members, along with an additional count of attempted aggravated murder for his father.

For each murder charge, Haynie was handed a 25-year sentence to be served consecutively, while the count of attempted murder will run concurrently.

Court documents reveal that Haynie’s motive for the crimes he committed stemmed from his increasing social isolation, arguments with his father and unfulfilled expectations. He believed shooting his family was the only solution for himself.

At the family’s funeral service, Danny Haynie, another sibling who wasn’t home on January 17 when the killings took place, spent most of his speech fondly remembering his mother, younger sisters and brother but also took a moment to express his hope that his brother knows how much he loves him.

“He is part of our family and we all love him,” Danny Haynie said. “We all want the best for him. Part of me feels like I lost him too but at least he’s still here.”

Haynie appeared in numerous family photographs that decorated a programme distributed to the hundreds of friends, relatives and fellow churchgoers who gathered for the service, including a prominent image on the front cover.

Colin refrained from naming his son directly but revealed he has chosen to concentrate on the cherished memories.

He went on to say he finds solace in picturing his three children eagerly discovering the spiritual realm whilst being lovingly watched over by their dedicated mother and his beloved wife. “Their spirit, their soul lives on,” he said.

Four coffins occupied almost the entire area at the front of the church, each adorned with floral arrangements. The coffin for Consuelo Alejandra Haynie, 52, was white, whilst Matthew’s, 14, was blue.

The coffins for sisters Alexis, 15, and Milan, 12, were white with purple touches.

“Families are eternal and that’s what is going to keep us going,” Danny said. “I know we will be reunited again as a family.”