A federal grand jury in Salt Lake City has indicted Leroy Casper Poowegup Reed, a 42-year-old man from Whiterocks, Utah, on charges of first-degree murder. Reed is accused of killing another man with a bow and arrow last month.
Reed was initially charged by complaint on June 27, 2025, and subsequently detained by a U.S. Magistrate Judge. The incident reportedly occurred on June 26, 2025, when officers from the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Uintah County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call about a possible vehicle accident in Whiterocks. Upon arrival, they found an unconscious individual inside a vehicle with an arrow protruding from his neck.
Court documents state that officers identified Reed at the scene and took him into custody after finding blood nearby and seizing a bow and arrows. Surveillance footage allegedly shows Reed shooting the victim with an arrow as he approached Reed's residence.
Reed faces charges of first-degree murder within Indian Country. His initial court appearance is set for July 17, 2025, at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in Salt Lake City.
The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Felice John Viti for the District of Utah. The investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Uintah County Sheriff’s Office, and FBI Salt Lake City Field Office’s Vernal Resident Agency.
Assistant United States Attorneys Sam Pead and Victoria K. McFarland are prosecuting the case as part of Operation Take Back America. This initiative aims to combat illegal immigration and violent crime through resources from various Department of Justice programs.
It is important to note that an indictment is merely an allegation; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
