Teen on life support after ex-boyfriend’s murder-suicide attempt, Utah cops say

A teenager is on life support after being shot by her ex-boyfriend in an “apparent murder-suicide,” attempt, police in Utah said.

Springville police found the 17-year-old girl shot in the front seat of a car at around 3:30 p.m. on May 18, the Deseret News reported. The girl’s 19-year-old ex-boyfriend, Masao Kaanga, was also shot and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the outlet.

Police believe Kaanga shot himself after shooting the girl, Fox 13 reported. The girl was airlifted to a nearby hospital and is currently on life support to preserve her organs for donation, KSL reported.

The couple reportedly broke up the day before, and police had been asked to perform a welfare check on the girl the afternoon she was shot, Fox 13 reported.

In a statement, Springville police said the girl’s family hopes to carry on her legacy by donating her organs to people in need, KSL reported.

“If there is a family in the local area who is in need of organ donation, contact the Springville Police Department,” they said, according to KSL.

Members of the Springville community gathered for a candlelight vigil on May 19, and the girl’s high school sent a message to students and parents notifying them of the shooting, the Deseret News reported.

A crisis team, including grief counselors, was sent to the high school, a school district official told Fox 13. .

The Springville Police Department and Nebo School District did not immediately respond to requests for comment from McClatchy News.

This story was originally published May 20, 2022 at 3:41 PM with the headline "Teen on life support after ex-boyfriend’s murder-suicide attempt, Utah cops say."