A ninth-grade student from Canyon View Junior High in Orem, Utah, died Wednesday, September 24, 2025, after bringing a loaded gun on a school field trip and fatally shooting themselves in front of classmates at South Fork Park in Provo Canyon.
The incident occurred during a field trip to South Fork Park, an offshoot of Provo Canyon. Officials with the Alpine School District confirmed the student suffered what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The student was immediately airlifted by helicopter to a local hospital, where they later succumbed to their injuries.
Multiple students and staff members witnessed the shooting, according to the Utah County Sheriff’s Office. The traumatic event left classmates shocked and frightened, with several ninth-grade students setting up a memorial outside the school in memory of their deceased classmate.
Rich Stowell, a spokesperson for the Alpine School District, indicated that it remains unclear how the student obtained the firearm. The circumstances surrounding the shooting are still under investigation by detectives with the sheriff’s office, who have not released the student’s identity.
District officials confirmed that all other students who participated in the field trip returned safely to the school. The Alpine School District stated they are “working with law enforcement, medical personnel, and counseling experts to navigate this tragic situation.”
The district immediately mobilized counseling resources for students and staff affected by the incident. Stowell emphasized that the immediate priority focused on ensuring students who attended school the following day had trusted adults to discuss the traumatic event. Counseling services will remain available at Canyon View Junior High for as long as students need them.
Classes resumed as scheduled on Thursday and Friday, September 25 and 26, though the school canceled parent-teacher conferences originally planned for Thursday. The district also plans to share additional mental health resources with the broader school community.
Amy Walker, a parent in the Alpine School District, expressed her heartbreak over the incident. Her son, Gray Walker, shared condolences and spoke about friends who may have witnessed the shooting, noting how frightening the experience would be for ninth-grade students who saw it happen.
The incident highlights broader concerns about youth suicide rates in Utah. According to official statistics, youths aged 10 to 17 in Utah were seven times more likely to be victims of suicide than homicide between 2009 and 2023. Nationwide, more people died by gun suicide in 2023 than in any other year on record, surpassing gun homicides, accidental shootings and police shootings combined.
Federal mortality data indicates that gun suicides comprised 58 percent of all gun deaths in 2023, with 27,300 people dying by gun suicide that year. The Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions and the Johns Hopkins Center for Suicide Prevention found that more rural and less populated states recorded the highest gun suicide rates in 2023.
Rose Kim, lead author of the Johns Hopkins report and assistant policy adviser at the Center for Gun Violence Solutions, explained that people use guns when considering suicide because firearms are highly lethal and easily accessible. She described this combination as particularly deadly and a driving force behind the suicide epidemic nationally.
The Utah County Sheriff’s Office continues investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting. Officials have not provided additional details about the incident, citing the ongoing investigation. The student’s parents were immediately notified after the shooting occurred.
Mental health experts stress the importance of providing support for students who witnessed the traumatic event. Counselors note that children may experience various reactions, including numbness, heightened anxiety, or deep sadness, following such incidents.
Utah students experiencing crisis situations can access help through the SafeUT app for talking or texting with counselors. The national Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available by calling or texting 988. Additional local crisis lines serve various Utah counties, including Utah County at 801-226-4433 and Provo at 801-373-7393.
