Manslaughter Charge Filed Against Joseph Le Page Lee

Today, Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill announced charges, including second-degree felony manslaughter, against Joseph Le Page Lee, 46, for his alleged role in the death of his stepson H.M.
 
On June 17, 2025, Riverton Police Department detectives responded to the report of a shooting. When they arrived, H.M. was lying on the floor with a gunshot wound to the head. The defendant told police that it was an accidental shooting. He told them that he had just returned from purchasing some firearm-related items in Midway, and his stepdaughter had asked him a question about guns, and he picked up a Glock 19x. He then explained that it was muscle memory: you take the mag out, you rack, aim it down, and pull. He told police the barrel of the gun was up and not down because he was showing his stepdaughter something; he told police that in his mind, the magazine was not there, and “bam,” H.M. fell. Lee explained that he had just cleared the same gun and thought he had picked up the cleared gun.
 
A Riverton Police Detective recovered video surveillance from the home. In the video it shows that at 15:12:34 hours, the defendant reached down to his side and picked up a handgun with his right hand to show his stepdaughter. The defendant then opens the slide of the gun with his left hand, racking it back, while H.M. stands up from the couch and moves towards the defendant. As H.M. is in the process of sitting back down on the couch, a gunshot is heard, and H.M. immediately falls to the ground and does not move. At 15:13:11 hours, the defendant is seen telling his stepdaughter to put away his other guns except the one he just fired; at 15:14:49 hours, the defendant kneels next to H.M. and gives him a blessing. Just before the blessing M.L. tells the defendant, 911 want him to perform CPR. The defendant tells M.L. he will and to give him a second. At 15:16:16 hours the defendant starts doing CPR until officers arrive. Detectives noted it took the defendant approximately four minutes from the time of the shooting to start CPR on H.M.
 
The defendant is charged with one count of second-degree felony manslaughter and four counts of class A misdemeanor reckless endangerment.
 
“Owning a gun is a right in our country. However, that right does not absolve all of us from the responsibility in the way we handle such weapons. If you are a gun owner, please follow proper protocol when using them, especially when others are around,” said Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill. “We appreciate the Riverton Police Department for their investigation that led to these charges being filed. All persons accused of wrongdoing are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.”