Greg Kyle DeBoer, 63, is on track to face a jury in January following his Fourth District Court appearance this week.  DeBoer is charged with obstruction of justice, a second-degree felony, for burying the gun he used to shoot Patrick Hayes after a road rage incident in September 2024. DeBoer p leaded not guilty in November, with his criminal trial set to start early next year. Defense attorney Andrew Deesing told the court during a preliminary hearing on Wednesday that “everything’s said,” and all that’s left is to prepare for DeBoer’s trial. One additional pre-trial conference is set for December. The Wasatch County Attorney’s Office did not charge DeBoer with homicide for Hayes’ death. DeBoer claimed self-defense, and Wasatch County Sheriff Jared Rigby said there is no requirement in the state statute for someone to notify law enforcement of the use of force in a self-defense scenario, even if it’s deadly. The shooting happened at the Ross Creek entrance of Jordanelle State Park on Sept. 25, 2024. In his description of events leading up to the Ross Creek area altercation, DeBoer said Hayes cut him off to exit from Interstate 80 onto U.S. 40, despite not being in the exit lane. DeBoer said Hayes repeatedly “ran him off the road.” Footage from Ross Creek cameras shows DeBoer following Hayes into the parking area before Hayes exited his vehicle with a small plastic baton and a pocket knife. DeBoer appeared to attempt to hit Hayes with his car twice, causing Hayes to lose his footing. After a verbal exchange, a single gunshot was fired.   The Wasatch County Sheriff’s Office obtained a warrant to search DeBoer’s home after a 48-day investigation. Deputies interviewed DeBoer, who claimed he used lethal force to defend himself. DeBoer also admitted to burying the Kimber 1911 pistol used in the shooting, which brought on the obstruction of justice charge. He buried the gun under a boulder about 100 yards from his home on his 20-acre Browns Canyon property. DeBoer securely placed the pistol in a plastic bag, wrapped it in tin foil and shut it in a Pelican case before burying it.  Under Utah law, obstruction of justice is defined as intent to hinder, delay or prevent a criminal “investigation, apprehension, prosecution, conviction or punishment of any person regarding conduct that constitutes a criminal offense,” such as concealing or removing an item, hiding information or providing false information related to an investigation. A second-degree felony charge means the conduct, in this case, the shooting, related to the offense could be charged as a capital or first-degree felony, which includes homicide.  A second-degree felony charge carries a possible penalty of one to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. DeBoer is scheduled to appear in Fourth District Court on Jan. 11, 12 and 13, 2027. The post Everything is set for the Ross Creek shooter trial to start in January appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less