A narrow miss in the bedroom
The Smiths were folding laundry in their bedroom when they heard a pop and breaking glass Sunday morning, according to KUTV's reporting. In the station's October 20, 2026, report, Dan Smith estimated that the bullet came within about an inch of entering the house.
"My immediate thought was some kid with a slingshot, rock, pellet, BB," Smith said. "I came outside, and that's when I saw the slug embedded in the window frame."
A hole in the couple's fence provided another clue. The Smiths said police concluded that the bullet probably came from the canal behind their property. Describing its possible path, Smith said: "If you look directly through that hole and line the two sides up, it's right up against that block wall on the other side."
Smith told KUTV in its earlier report that police found no casing at the scene. He suspected, based on his own firearms knowledge, that the shot might have come from a .22-caliber gun, but that had not been confirmed.
The couple's concern extends to family gatherings: Their backyard often hosts relatives on Sundays, including their 11 grandchildren, according to the October 20 report. The Smiths said neighbors were also upset and worried that someone could fire another shot.
Questions about canal responsibility
The Smiths want attention paid to the canal's limited lighting, lack of supervision and multiple access points. Dan Smith initially took his suggestions to South Jordan, though he was uncertain whether the city controlled the space. The city subsequently confirmed that responsibility rests with the Utah and Salt Lake Canal Company.
South Jordan's secondary-water information describes canal companies' duties as conveying water and caring for canal infrastructure, including cleaning, maintenance, and removal of weeds and debris. The Utah and Salt Lake Canal Company's canal is among four main canals that pass through the city.
Canal safety has also been examined at the state level. A 2023 Utah legislative presentation on active-transportation facilities in canal corridors, supported by the Utah Department of Transportation, outlined potential safety treatments: enclosing canals, adjusting geometric design, separating trails from canals with a buffer, installing fencing or removable caps or lids, adding signs, and restricting modes of travel.
That presentation also noted canal companies' limited resources for legal defense. The study put typical canal-enclosure costs at roughly $1 million to $2 million per mile and canal-trail construction at about $500,000 to $750,000 per mile.
Answers pending as the couple adds cameras
KUTV sent the canal company questions Wednesday about the Smiths' concerns and whether it would consider more lighting, patrols or access restrictions. When the station called again Thursday, an employee said further answers would have to wait for the owner's response. KUTV had received no substantive reply by the time its October 22 report was published.
The Smiths said they had received no update naming the person who fired the shot or indicating whether police had identified a suspect.
On Thursday, the couple installed cameras at their property to monitor the area, hoping to help prevent another such incident.
