A determined camp of Koosharem Southern Paiutes remained in Circle Valley (Box Creek, now called Circleville), trying to be friendly with the settlers.

[1][2] On April 21, 1866, an express from nearby Fort Sanford reached Circleville, Utah alleging a Paiute man had feigned friendly intent but then shot and killed a militiaman stationed there.

After much discussion, it was decided that they should arrest all the Paiutes that were camped nearby and bring them to Circleville for confinement.

[1][2] Every able-bodied man in the town set out that night to take custody of the Indigenous camp which they surrounded under cover of darkness.

All of the Koosharem people agreed after pressuring to go to Circleville with the men, except one young man who refused and began to shoot at the posse.

[1][2] In 2016, on the 150-year anniversary of the massacre a monument was dedicated in the town park to remember the Native Americans murdered nearby.