A Utah real estate agent was touring a home with a buyer when she opened the door to a bedroom and found a man with a rifle inside.

The agent, whose name is being kept private by the police, had been showing a home in Draper, a suburb of Salt Lake City. Finding the door to one of the bedrooms on the lower level locked, she opened it to go in only to find a man with a rifle. According to the police report released after the incident, 26-year-old Matthew Lee Hirschi pointed it at the agent and the client and told them to get off the property.

“[The agent] then unlocked the door and when she opened the door there was a male subject pointing a rifle at her and one of the clients,” read the police affidavit, as reported by local press.

Police arrived at the scene and were not initially able to get inside as Hirschi would not open the door or answer the phone. As the police set up containment around the house, Hirschi called the officers back and let them come in.

“Matthew advised that he was not talking to us, however, he would come to the door,” continued the affidavit. “Matthew came to the door unarmed and opened the door.”

Hirschi was then arrested on two counts of aggravated assault and booked into the Salt Lake County Jail pending an investigation. The affidavit does not specify how he entered the home, whether he owned it or how the police were able to reach him while the agent was inside.

While open houses often generate news for agent attacks and other dangerous incidents, even private showings can be a source of danger. Some safety experts advise agents to screen homes ahead of time and have an alarm within easy activation on their phone when showing alone.

Email Veronika Bondarenko

Show Comments Hide Comments
Sign up for Inman’s Morning Headlines
What you need to know to start your day with all the latest industry developments
By submitting your email address, you agree to receive marketing emails from Inman.
Success!
Thank you for subscribing to Morning Headlines.
Back to top
Only 3 days left to register for Inman Connect Las Vegas before prices go up! Don't miss the premier event for real estate pros.Register Now ×
Limited Time Offer: Get 1 year of Inman Select for $199SUBSCRIBE×
Log in
If you created your account with Google or Facebook
Don't have an account?
Forgot your password?
No Problem

Simply enter the email address you used to create your account and click "Reset Password". You will receive additional instructions via email.

Forgot your username? If so please contact customer support at (510) 658-9252

Password Reset Confirmation

Password Reset Instructions have been sent to

Subscribe to The Weekender
Get the week's leading headlines delivered straight to your inbox.
Top headlines from around the real estate industry. Breaking news as it happens.
15 stories covering tech, special reports, video and opinion.
Unique features from hacker profiles to portal watch and video interviews.
Unique features from hacker profiles to portal watch and video interviews.
It looks like you’re already a Select Member!
To subscribe to exclusive newsletters, visit your email preferences in the account settings.
Up-to-the-minute news and interviews in your inbox, ticket discounts for Inman events and more
1-Step CheckoutPay with a credit card
By continuing, you agree to Inman’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

You will be charged . Your subscription will automatically renew for on . For more details on our payment terms and how to cancel, click here.

Interested in a group subscription?
Finish setting up your subscription
×