ROY — Police say the man who tried to drunkenly murder his wife here emptied his handgun while chasing her, then went back to his house for his assault rifle.
He was looking for her with the rifle when police rolled up on the scene, their fifth trip this year to the home of Christopher Locke, 41, according to new details released on what is now an attempted murder case.
In all, the woman suffered “six bullet injuries,” according to charging documents.
Roy Police Chief Greg Whinham said it’s not clear how many shots Locke fired at his wife, because he missed her a number of times.
“He also hit the house across the street,” Whinham said.
She was shot in the thighs and backside as she was running from Locke. She has since been released from the hospital.
“We’re very fortunate this lady was not killed,” Whinham said.
Locke has been held without bail in Weber County Jail since the Dec. 16 incident at his Roy home in the 3700 West block of 4750 South. The attempted murder charge is a first-degree felony, punishable by a prison term of five years to life.
Locke is also charged with assault; domestic violence in the presence of a child, as his 5-year-old son was a witness; and possession of a dangerous weapon while under the influence of alcohol.
Locke returned to his home when police arrived that night, talking to officers briefly from his porch while refusing to put down the assault rifle. A two-hour standoff ensued, populated by approximately 20 SWAT team members, before Locke surrendered shortly after midnight
He was still drunk when arrested, “smelled heavily of alcohol, had poor balance, and red bloodshot eyes,” according to a probable cause affidavit.
Whinham said “previous domestic violence issues were a factor” in an argument that escalated through the night.
Locke then threw a vodka bottle at his wife, but missed, the bottle striking his wife’s friend, police say. The woman hit with the bottle was incorrectly identified in some news reports as Locke’s daughter.
The wife then threatened to call 911, Whinham said, enraging Locke, who then chased her out of the house, firing at her, police say. The 911 call was eventually placed from a neighbor’s home.
Whinham said a third woman, another friend of the wife, then went back into Locke’s house as police sirens were heard.
“In all the confusion,” Whinham said, she persuaded him to let his 5-year-old son leave the house as police were arriving.
Locke has twice before been convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence assault at his home for attacks in April this year and in March 2010.
In both cases in Roy Justice Court, he earned suspended 30-day jail sentences in favor of fines and counseling.
He has completed the counseling, according to court records, but some of the fines are still pending.
Whinham said Dec. 16 was the fifth visit to Locke’s home this year regarding a disturbance, not all ending in an arrest.
Locke has a scheduling conference set for Jan. 4 in 2nd District Court.
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