An arrest occurred after Duchesne County deputies responded to a report of gunshots at a location in Fruitland. According to the Affidavit of Probable Cause, officers arrived on July 16th to find 28-year-old Robert Trent Cooper and his girlfriend along with a man with a gunshot wound to the left forearm. The initial report told by all three to officers that stated that Robert’s girlfriend had shot the victim turned out to be a lie as they were trying to protect Robert. Another witness on the property residing in a different RV reported hearing the conversation between Robert Cooper, his girlfriend, and the victim just after the shooting took place, instructing the girlfriend to say she shot the victim instead of him and told the victim that if he wasn’t his friend, he would have killed him. This witness also testified that Robert had been shooting his gun during the day. When later questioned, the girlfriend and victim separately changed their story and admitted that it was Robert that shot the victim after an argument. Processing of the crime scene confirmed the later report of what happened. Medical staff at the hospital indicated that the victim’s injuries would require surgery. Cooper was arrested on 8 offenses, including Felony Discharge of a Firearm, Aggravated Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, Carrying a Dangerous Weapon Under the Influence of Alcohol/Drugs, Interference With Arresting Officer, Tampering With a Witness, and Possession of a Dangerous Weapon by a Restricted Person, as well as drug charges. Court documents show that Cooper had also been arrested in Duchesne County on July 2nd on drug and assault charges.
