Welfare Check Finds Two Dead, One Injured

"EVANS, CO — A man and a teenage girl were killed and a woman suffered a gunshot wound to the head in a shooting at an Evans home on Thursday afternoon, authorities said.

"At about 1:30 p.m., Evans police officers responded on a request for a welfare check at a home in the 2400 block of Marina Street. An employer had called 911 to say a man had missed work and the employer knew the man was having personal issues, Evans Police Commander Chad Harding said in news release.

"When officers responded to the home, the door was answered by a woman with severe head trauma, Harding said. She was transported to Northern Colorado Medical Center and was soon airlifted to Denver Health Medical Center with an apparent gunshot wound to the head.

"Meanwhile, Evans police officers and Weld County deputies entered the home and found the bodies of a man and juvenile teenage girl with apparent gunshot wounds in an upstairs bedroom, Harding said.

"Neighbor Kendra Finn told [reporters] that SWAT officers armed with assault rifles swarmed the home in the afternoon and area streets were closed.

"The investigation is on-going."

From thedenverchannel.com...

Neighborhood Locked Down After Shooting

"CASTLE ROCK, CO — A man and woman were found dead inside a home in Castle Rock Sunday.

"A SWAT team was deployed to a home on the 4000 block of Old Windmill Way just before 7:30 a.m., in The Meadows neighborhood, to deal with a suspicious incident involving a woman and her boyfriend.

"A boyfriend of a woman who lives at the house requested a welfare check for her after she missed a meeting with a family member on Saturday.

"Based on the initial investigation, the Douglas County Regional SWAT team was called in.

"The Castle Rock Police Department set up a command post at Meadow View Elementary school, town officials confirmed Sunday morning.

"`As a precaution, a CodeRED was issued for the immediate neighbors and residents are asked to stay inside their homes,` officials said. That request has since been lifted.

"Roads were closed in the area but police began to reopened them at about 9 a.m.

"Police say there was no threat to the community, but did not say if the deaths were the result of a murder/suicide.

"The victims are a 24-year-old woman and a 26-year-old man.

"Autopsies will be performed Monday to determine the manner and cause of death and to officially identify the two."

From TheDenverChannel...

Cops Keep Details To Themselves

"GUNNISON, CO — Jennifer Lembke, 40, and Michael King, 30, are dead in an apparent murder/suicide, Gunnison police confirmed.

"Authorities responded last evening to 421 Tincup Drive in Gunnison on reports of shots fired. They found Lembke and King dead, and their visibly shaken roommate uninjured, Gunnison Police Chief Keith Robinson said.

"Autopsies are being performed; for now, the police are not saying which victim died by homicide and which died by suicide. They also cannot release at this time what kind of firearm was used, how many shots were fired, or what might have precipitated the shooting.

"The Colorado Bureau of Investigation is finishing processing the scene."

Source: Montrose Daily Press...

Police Find Bodies After Responding To Call

"COMMERCE CITY, CO — Commerce City Police are investigating a suspected murder/suicide after a man and woman were found dead in their home Sunday afternoon.

"Officers responded to a call about a shooting at 5761 East 65th Way around 3:55 p.m. Sunday. They found a man and a woman, both in their 50s, dead in the house.

"`It appears to be a murder/suicide,` said Detective Christian Rasmussen, spokesman for the Commerce City Police Department.

"A juvenile female in the house called in the shooting, Rasmussen said.

"Rasmussen said there was no history of domestic disputes at the address.

"The investigation is ongoing."

From denverpost.com...

Female Shooter Dead, Victim Taken To Hospital

"DENVER, CO — A mechanic at a road-paving company was taken to a hospital with a serious injury Tuesday night after a woman shot him and killed herself, according to officials.

"The injured man works at Rocky Mountain Pavement Company in Adams County, said president Danny Gryzmala.

"`It's just a shock,` Gryzmala said Wednesday morning just before holding a company meeting with many of his 180 employees who may have witnessed the shooting. `We're worried about our employees.`

"Investigators were continuing to investigate the circumstances of the shooting on 2001 West 64th Lane.

"It was reported at 7:15 p.m. Tuesday.

"Authorities have not released details about the suspect.

"They also have withheld the names of the suspect and the victim, but the sheriff's office Wednesday evening said in a news release that it appeared the victim and the suspect were in a relationship.

"A sheriff's official said a KCNC online report that a woman entered the business and shot a man before shooting and killing herself was accurate."

From the Denver Post...

Father And Son Found Dead After SWAT Standoff

"KEENESBURG, CO — A Colorado man reportedly shot and killed his 14-year-old son before fatally turning the gun on himself following a seven-hour standoff with deputies.

"The tragic ending inside a Kennesburg home early Tuesday morning was the summation of months of problems between Shawn D. Kilker, 42, and his estranged wife, Denise, Weld County Sheriff officials told [reporters].

"`He was saying things that he was going to do to her, like having her raped and all this other crap that he thought of. Anything to hurt her,` family friend, Don Enroughty, told the station.

"That threat apparently included killing their 14-year-old son whom officials say stayed dutifully by his father's side throughout the standoff with SWAT crews.

"`He was going to be a freshman and go to varsity football. He was a good kid. He had a heart of gold,` Kilker's sister-in-law [said] while biting back tears. `The marriage was over and he just couldn't accept it and he was gonna take somebody down to hurt his wife.`"

Source: New York Daily News...

Death On A Dead End Street

"FORT COLLINS, CO — A 73-year-old man and a 26-year-old relative are dead in a reported murder/suicide in southwest Fort Collins.

"Fort Collins police and other emergency personnel were dispatched to the shooting incident in the city's southwest corner at 12:51 p.m. Thursday. An informant told police that her husband had shot a family member and then himself.

"Upon arriving to the scene on the 6300 block of Thompson Drive, police confirmed that two males were found dead in a residence on the dead-end street northwest of the intersection of South Shields Street and Trilby Road.

"The Larimer County Coroner's Office on Thursday afternoon identified the men as 73-year-old Gene Kapperman and 26-year-old Brandon Kapperman. Both are from Fort Collins.

"There is no risk to the community, police said.

"The Larimer County coroner will determine the official causes and manners of death after the autopsies tomorrow.

"Neighbor Cheryl Frosh called her neighborhood `about as quiet as they get,` and said residents were known to go for walks together down the meandering dirt roads lined with 2-acre lots and horse stables."

From 9news.com...

Retired Cop, Dispatcher Wife Found Dead In Home

"CANON CITY, CO — Canon City police are mourning the death of a dispatcher and the apparent suicide of her retired police officer husband, both of whom were discovered dead late Thursday in their home.

"Officers were dispatched at 11:27 p.m. Thursday to the 700 block of Whipple to check on the welfare of a Canon City Police Department dispatcher Priscilla Samento, 49, who had failed to show up for her 11 p.m. shift and was not answering phone calls.

"`Upon arrival at the residence, officers were able to enter and found the bodies of Priscilla Samento, and (retired police officer) Daniel Samento, 56,` said Canon City police Capt. Jim Cox. `All indications point towards a murder/suicide.`

"Cox said it appears Samento killed his wife and then committed suicide.

"`It is devastating to us—some people here are really torn apart. We have a small police department and it is like family,` Cox said.

"Samento had worked at the department for more than 20 years. He retired about three years ago, Cox said."

Source: The Pueblo Chieftan...

Police Find Bodies During Welfare Check

"ARVADA, CO — Police were dispatched to an Arvada residence Tuesday for a welfare check where they discovered two dead bodies.

"According to the Arvada Police Department, officers responded to a home at 6322 W. 61th Pl. near Lamar Street after family members of the residents said they had not heard from them in awhile and were concerned for their safety.

"Upon arrival, officers found the husband and wife, who resided in the home, deceased.

"Police said evidence from the scene is indicative of a murder-suicide investigation.

"There are no other suspects in the case at this time, said police."

From KDVR...

Three Found Dead In Home

"THORNTON, CO — Thornton police were investigating an apparent double murder/suicide that happened Sunday night.

"Officers were called to 9318 Welby Road Terrace at approximately 8:49 p.m., on a report of a disturbance with shots fired.

"Witnesses said they heard multiple gunshots come from inside the townhouse. Officers forced their way into the home and found the bodies of a man and two women.

"A weapon was found inside the home, investigators said.

"Police said they were not looking for a suspect.

"`TPD officers on scene of what appears to be a double homicide/suicide,` Thornton police tweeted at 10:40 p.m.

"The names of the deceased and the official causes of death will be determined by the Adams County Coroner’s Office.

"The Thornton Police Department is seeking any witnesses who may have information regarding this incident."

From TheDenverChannel.com...

Engaged Couple Found Dead In Shared Home

"WELLINGTON, CO — A Wellington man shot his fiancee, then turned the gun on himself Thursday evening, according to the Larimer County Coroner’s Office.

"The death of Maria Olivas, 38, has been ruled a homicide, according James MacNaughton, a deputy coroner in Larimer County. Olivas died of a gunshot wound to the head.

"MacNaughton said the death of Hallie James Pringle, 34, was ruled a suicide by gunshot wounds to the head.

"The Larimer County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call of a possible shooting at a residence along the 12000 block of County Road 9 at 6:02 p.m. Friday, according to a release Saturday morning. Upon arriving, deputies found Pringle and Olivas deceased inside the residence.

"According to MacNaughton, the two were engaged and shared a home north of Wellington."

From coloradoan.com...

Armed Teenager Shoots Himself During SWAT Standoff

"HIGHLANDS RANCH, CO — Deputies are now investigating the deaths of a woman and a teen-age boy as a murder/suicide following a standoff at a Highlands Ranch home Friday night.

"`We're investigating it as a murder/suicide,` Dep. Chad Teller, spokesman for the Douglas County Sheriff's Department. `We believe this is an isolated incident and that it was family related.`

"One woman was killed and a second woman was injured Friday night at a home in Highlands Ranch. The male teen-ager was also found dead, Teller said.

"The dead woman's boyfriend told [reporters] that she was the teenager's mother and that an argument over his medication preceeded the shooting.

"The boyfriend said the injured woman was the dead woman's oldest daughter. She injured her back jumping out of a window to escape.

"Investigators have not released the identities of the two dead people.

"Douglas County Sheriff's deputies and SWAT were called to Old Stone Drive and Fox Hunt Circle before 8 p.m. after a report of a shooting, according to Ron Hanavan, Douglas County sheriff's spokesman.

"A barricade situation followed until about midnight and a juvenile male was reported to be holed up in the house. The suspect did not fire a weapon at SWAT team members and the officers did not fire upon the house, Teller said.

"Deputies tried in various ways to communicate with the armed party, but received no response. It's not known when the teenager was shot or how it happened."

Read more at the Denver Post...

Two Found Dead, Police Release Few Details

"DENVER, CO — Two people were found dead in a southwest Denver home Thursday after police found them while conducting a check on the welfare of the occupants.

"Denver police said the bodies were found at a home on 2588 S. Utica Street near W. Harvard Ave.

"Someone called police at 5 p.m., concerned about the occupants of the home and asked Denver police to check on them.

"Police were waiting for a warrant to re-enter the house and begin their investigation. Just before 8 p.m. Thursday, Denver police tweeted `Search warrant served. No updates will be available for incident in 2500 block of S. Utica until tomorrow.`

"On Friday, police said they still had no updates because detectives were still working the case."

From thedenverchannel.com...

Decomposing Bodies Found In Home

"ARVADA, CO — An Arvada husband and wife have been found shot to death in what police suspect suspect was a murder/suicide.

"`There's no one else suspected to be involved in their deaths and no there's no threat to public safety,` Arvada Police spokeswoman Jill McGranahan [said] on Saturday afternoon.

"A female family member concerned about the couple's welfare went to the home at 10756 W. 68th Place at about 12: 30 p.m. Friday, McGranahan said. The relative found the 71-year-old husband and the 65-year-old wife dead from gunshot wounds and they appeared to have been deceased for some time, McGranahan said.

"Investigators don’t have an estimate of how long the pair had been dead, but the bodies had begun to decompose, she said.

"Police would not speculate on which of the two had fired the gun. The Jefferson County coroner will conduct autopsies to determine the cause and manner of death."

From thedenverchannel.com...

Woman Survives Shooting Rampage By Hiding In Closet

"INDIAN HILLS, CO — A 25-year-old man shot and killed his stepmother and wounded his father before taking his own life during a Monday night argument at the family's Indian Hills home, the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office said Wednesday.

"Deputies responded to the home at 23038 Pawnee Rd. at 10:05 p.m. after receiving a call from 24-year-old Sarah McConaghie. She said she had heard gunfire from the main level of the family home after her stepbrother had an argument with her parents, according to the sheriff's office.

"A dispatcher radioed deputies that McConaghie said her stepbrother `has started shooting` and she heard her parents screaming and had locked herself in her bedroom, according to a recording of radio traffic provided by RadioReference.com.

"McConaghie, who was calling from a closet in her bedroom, remained hidden and on the phone with dispatchers until deputies arrived on scene.

"Deputies entered the home through an unlocked rear door and soon found three people on the main floor who had been shot.

"The mother, 53-year-old Margaret Leiman, and her stepson, 25-year-old Robert Leiman, were both pronounced dead at the scene, sheriff's officials said. The father, 58-year-old Bruce Leiman, was transported by air-ambulance to Swedish Hospital. He was in stable condition on Tuesday night.

"Deputies found McConaghie hidden the closet and escorted her from the home.

"The handgun used in the shooting belonged to Robert Leiman, sheriff's officials said.

"`The preliminary investigation indicates that during an argument between Robert and his parents, he went to his room to retrieve a handgun, returned to the main level of the home and shot both Margaret and Bruce multiple times,` sheriff's officials said. `Robert then fired several shots into the room where Sarah was and then returned to the main floor where he shot himself.`

"An autopsy showed Margaret Leiman died from multiple gunshot wounds, and Robert Leiman died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to the Jefferson County Coroner's Office."

From the Denver Channel...

One Dead, One Injured In High School Shooting Rampage

"DENVER, CO — The 18-year-old Colorado gunman who stormed his suburban Denver high school and shot and critically wounded a classmate last week before committing suicide died of a shotgun blast to the head, the county coroner said on Monday.

"An autopsy conducted on the body of Karl Halverson Pierson revealed he died of `a severe head injury,` the Arapahoe County Coroner's Office said in a statement that classified the death as a suicide.

"The 17-year-old victim of the shooting spree, Claire Davis, is in a coma and is listed in critical but stable condition, her family said in a statement issued through the hospital where she is being treated.

"Armed with a pump-action shotgun, a machete and three Molotov cocktails, Pierson entered Arapahoe High School in Centennial on Friday, firing the weapon and igniting one of the explosive devices.

"The rampage took place just 8 miles from the scene of one of the deadliest school massacres in U.S. history, Columbine High School, where two students gunned down 13 classmates and staff before killing themselves in 1999.

"Arapahoe County Sheriff Grayson Robinson said Pierson had been upset with a teacher identified as the school's debate coach and librarian, Tracy Murphy, who had disciplined Pierson, a member of the debate team, earlier in the school year.

"Pierson shot Davis in the face at point-blank range outside the library, then shot himself as an armed deputy cornered him in the library, Robinson said."

Source: Chicago Tribune...

"Don't Judge Me"

"WESTMINSTER, CO — Grieving family members [said] a man took a picture of his baby on Monday, posted it on Facebook, then shot and killed the girl and then shot himself.

"The mother of the baby called Westminster police about 9:35 a.m. and said when she woke up, her ex-boyfriend was standing over her with a handgun.

"The mother, Kimphone `Kim` Phanthavongsa, 21, told police there was an altercation and she ran out of her apartment at 7030 Stuart St. She called police from a neighbor’s apartment, saying her ex-boyfriend, Merrick McKoy, 22, had a gun and he was inside her apartment with their child.

"Westminster Police Investigator Wayne Read said when officers arrived, they heard gunshots. He said they found a child and an adult male with gunshot wounds.

"Both victims were taken to the hospital. Police confirm that 19-month-old Mia McKoy-Phanthavongsa died.

"`She just learned how to walk,` said a tearful Vannatda Sivixai. `What an angel. Whenever she smiled it was bright.`

"The condition of the suspect, McKoy, is unknown, police said.

"Police said McKoy had an active restraining order prohibiting him from being at that apartment.

"McKoy's Facebook page shows a photo of the man and the girl posted just before the shooting. Two other posts, after the photo said, `Ima miss stall lol [sic]` and `Don't judge me had no choice [sic].`"

Read more at The Denver Channel...

Police Investigate "Suspicious Circumstances", Find Bodies

"COLORADO SPRINGS, CO — Police say the death of a woman found in a Colorado Springs home has been ruled a homicide.

"Diane Klein, 53, was found by police in her home Wednesday night. She had been shot to death.

"The body of Kelvin Klein, 52, was also found in the home. The county coroner has ruled his death a suicide by gunshot wound.

"Officers responded to the home, located on 8322 Radcliff Drive near North Powers Blvd and Research Parkway in Colorado Springs after receiving a call about suspicious circumstances regarding the address."

From kktv.com...

Elderly Shooter Calls It In

"LONGMONT, CO — Longmont police said an elderly couple died in an apparent murder/suicide.

"According to police, Longmont Emergency Communications received a call just after 1 p.m. Thursday from an 80-year-old man who said he shot his 72-year-old wife and planned to shoot himself.

"When officers arrived at the couple's apartment in the 2400 block of 17th Avenue, they found a woman deceased in the apartment and the man wounded from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was rushed to Longmont United Hospital in critical condition but died late Friday.

"Police obtained a search warrant in order to search the apartment for additional clues about what happened and finally cleared the scene about 9 p.m. on Thursday. They said evidence indicates the shootings happened as the man described earlier on the phone..

"Several residents of the Victoria Inn Apartments were originally evacuated on Thursday but were allowed to return.

"The couple was identified Friday as Raymond and Judith Ecker."

From thedenverchannel.com...

Killer Drops Off Kids Before Shooting Himself

"DENVER, CO — A 28-year-old Green Valley Ranch woman found dead in her home Tuesday night had injuries all over her body, authorities say.

"Amber Moore of 21081 E. 46th Avenue was pronounced dead at her home Tuesday night, said Michelle Weiss-Samaras, spokeswoman for the Denver coroner's office.

"`It's something that is difficult for most of us to think of but it happens,` Weiss-Samaras said. `She was beaten to death. He didn't use a gun.`

"Police say they believe Moore's husband, Dominic Moses Moore, 32, killed her and then shot himself to death in his white 2000 Chrysler Cirrus in a field near Franktown Wednesday morning.

"The manner of death is homicide, Weiss-Samaras said.

"She had injuries to her head, neck, face, abdomen, arms and legs, she said.

"Before killing himself, Dominic Moore drove three children to his sister's house. But until the children were found an Amber Alert for the children, ages 15, 5, and 18 months, had been issued."

From denverpost.com...