A mother called the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office on Sunday afternoon concerned about her children, only to have her worst fears realized. The children were found unconscious, and their father was killed by deputies, according to authorities.
The two children later died, likely at their father’s hand, in Crystal Park, south of Manitou Springs and west of Colorado Springs.
The mother had called for help because “she was concerned about some of the statements the (father) had made about the children,” said Lt. Lari Sevene of the Sheriff’s Office.
When deputies arrived at the home in the 6200 block of Waterfall Loop before 5 p.m., they knocked on the door and got no answer, Sevene said.
When they looked in the windows, they saw two children, ages 2 and 5, “with obvious injuries.”
The officers kicked in the door to check on the children, who were unconscious but still alive.
Shortly after radioing in the discovery of the children, deputies called back to dispatch to say they had been confronted by the father and were forced to shoot, Sevene said.
Sevene could not say whether the father was armed or comment on the circumstances that led to shooting him.
Deputies aren’t saying how many shots were fired, but it’s believed that only one deputy fired his weapon, Sevene said. “They’re both obviously shook up about it; it’s not something you ever want to see.”
The Sheriff’s Office wasn’t yet identifying the children or the father. Sevene said the mother was not believed to be living in the home, but her location when she contacted the Sheriff’s Office was not available Sunday night.
“A lot of these things are still being investigated,” Sevene said. “This is still a very active investigation.”
Joey Bunch: 303-954-1174 or jbunch@denverpost.com
