Utah man dies after being punched repeatedly by girlfriend’s brother

HERRIMAN, Utah (KUTV) — An argument where a man claims he was trying to defend his sister – turned deadly Saturday.

Blake Burningham, 24, died after police say Cole Pedersen, 24, killed him during an argument.

Unified Police responded to a fight in progress near the area of 5900 West Moon Shadow Drive in Herriman just after midnight on Saturday.

When officers arrived they found Burningham, Pederson, two women, and two other men at the scene, according to a probable cause statement.

Pedersen told police Burningham had assaulted his sister. He said his sister asked him to pick her up from a nearby school. When Pedersen arrived, he saw his sister crying, according to the police report.

Later Pedersen decided to return to Moon Shadow Drive and talk to Burningham. The two began to argue and it escalated into pushing.

“Pedersen told us he punched Burningham in the face,” Detective Jared Richardson with the Unified Police Department said.

Unified Police said Burningham fell to the ground without getting a punch in and Pedersen punched the victim a second time.

“Pedersen delivered a few more punches to Burningham on the ground before Pedersen was pulled off by Burningham’s brother,” Detective Richardson said. “This is one of those traumatic situations where I am sure it was not intended to go this far.”

One neighbor administered CPR until medics arrived. Burningham went into cardiac arrest and was transported to the Riverton Hospital and then flown to Intermountain Medical Center in critical condition.

After speaking with neurologists, his family made the difficult decision to take him off life support.

“Doctors determined he had no brain activity, and the family decided to terminate life-support on him,” Richardson said. “It’s tragic, and it was avoidable. We urge the public to call police if they are in a domestic violence or assault situation verses calling someone who may be emotionally attached.”

Police arrested Pedersen for suspicion of aggravated assault.

Because of Burningham’s death the Salt Lake County District Attorney will revisit charges.

Pedersen is now looking at a potential felony homicide charge.

Detective Richardson told 2News it appears Burningham and his girlfriend had been drinking alcohol prior to their argument.

Richardson said the girlfriend refused medical attention and did not call police for the initial alleged assault with Burningham.

Cole Pedersen’s grandfather told 2News Pedersen is extremely protective of his sister, after recent tragic events in his personal family life.

2News spoke with neighbors of the Burninghams. The family spokesperson asked for the family’s privacy at this time.

Photo courtesy KUTV