Crime and Courts

California Man Drives to Utah, Kills His Brother and Sets His House on Fire, Authorities Say

Authorities said Jeffrey Roberts shot his brother dead, wounded his sister-in-law and then set the couple's home on fire before dying in a shootout with police.

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The video was released and edited by the Weber County Attorney’s Office. A bodycam video from a responding officer also captured the shootout.

The doorbell video showed Roberts’ brother, Scott, answering the door. The attorney’s office said it was 7:11 p.m. and Scott Roberts and his wife were eating dinner.

In the video, Jeffrey Roberts tells his brother that he’s there to see their mother. Scott Roberts tells him she’s been staying with someone else in Missouri for about a year. Jeffrey Roberts then reaches into his jacket, pulls out a handgun, and immediately begins firing while entering the home.

The doorbell video then captured Jeffrey Roberts going back outside, dropping a clip and returning with a rifle and bag. It also captured him apparently talking to someone on the phone. The audio is unintelligible at times, but he tells the person on the other end of the line to go into his garage and also to empty his bank account “as soon as you can.”

The attorney’s office said the man used road flares to set his brother’s home on fire.

Officers arrived after at least one neighbor called 911 to report gunshots. The attorney’s office said Jeffrey Roberts immediately opened fire on police.

The bodycam and doorbell camera showed Jeffrey Roberts stepping outside and firing multiple rounds. Officers return fire, and the man collapses dead.

The attorney’s office said Jeffrey Roberts struck a police SUV, as well as the garage door of a neighbor across the street.

At his Long Beach home, friends said Jeffrey Roberts was a calm man, an avid motorsports fan and a part of pit crews.

One friend, who wished not to be identified, said Jeffrey Roberts had called his friends before the shooting, angrily claiming his brother was taking advantage of his mother’s estate.

“He was heartbroken and sounded upset,” the friend said.

Authorities have not established a motive for the shooting, and the investigation remains ongoing.

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