Be Kind in Bear Lake, We’re All Here for a good time.

Bear Lake has always been about simple, good times—family traditions, kids laughing around the campground, sunsets over the water, and people from all over Utah coming together to unwind. That’s the vibe most of us know and love.

This past weekend that peace was interrupted at Trail Side KOA Journey in Garden City.

On Saturday afternoon, two young boys from a Salt Lake City family were hit by BB gun pellets while staying at the campground. One was struck in the ear, which left it bleeding, swollen, and red. The other had a clear mark on his chest. Both were upset, as any kids would be.

Rich County deputies responded quickly. Timothy Glade Holdaway, 53, was later arrested and is being investigated on two counts of assault, a class B misdemeanor. According to the police report, witnesses described a man matching his description firing from the employee housing area west of the campground. A neighbor told officers Holdaway owned a BB gun he used for shooting at trash cans and squirrels. Holdaway denied involvement. The investigation is still active.

The boys’ mother, Liliana Padilla-Perez, said the family has long made Bear Lake part of their tradition. She is understandably shaken and worried for her kids and for other families who come here expecting safety and fun.

“I love Bear Lake… but I’m definitely really scared now,” she said. “How do I explain to them that there are evil people like this?”

Most people who live here or visit understand that almost everyone is just trying to have a good time. Campgrounds, beaches, and the lake itself work best when we look out for one another—especially the kids. A BB gun pointed at children has no place in that picture.

Let’s keep the focus where it belongs: on treating each other with basic kindness so families can keep making the memories they came for. That’s the Bear Lake most of us want to protect.