Just a few days before Commerce City police planned to arrest a Lakewood police officer on accusations that he seriously injured his 3-month-old daughter, the officer and his wife were found dead in an apparent murder-suicide.
William O’Shell, 36, a Lakewood police officer, and Tiffany Cuin-O’Shell, 25, a former Lakewood officer, were found shot to death Monday, said Sgt. Joseph Sandoval, a spokesman for the Commerce City Police Department. Police do not know who fired the shots.
The couple’s daughter was taken from the home in the 11500 block of River Run Parkway on June 17 after she suffered serious injuries, including bone factures. Authorities began questioning William O’Shell in connection with the abuse of the child, Sandoval said.
He said O’Shell was not immediately arrested because the child was not in the home and therefore not at risk.
Detectives interviewed doctors and four people — including the parents — who had access to the child and could have caused the injuries, he said.
“There was no indication of any kind of domestic violence in the past,” Sandoval said. “There was no indication he was about to do something like this.”
The detectives were within a day of presenting the case for formal charges to the district attorney, Sandoval said.
Lakewood police said they had been notified by O’Shell that he and other family members had been questioned in the abuse case but not that he was a suspect, said Steve Davis, Lakewood police spokesman.
Had O’Shell been identified as a suspect or arrested, Lakewood police might have initiated an internal review, Davis said.
“It would have to be based on something like an arrest,” Davis said. “Once he was arrested, there would be a suspension or administrative leave.”
But even if O’Shell had been suspended, he would still keep his revolver, which is his own property, Davis said.
Commerce City police have not said whether the murder weapon was O’Shell’s service revolver. That is part of the investigation, Sandoval said.
Davis said William O’Shell began working as a patrol officer for Lakewood in March 2005 and did not have any reprimands. His wife began working for the department in April 2006 and resigned in September 2007, he said.
“The department is very saddened to learn of the tragic deaths of one of our current agents and one of our past agents,” Davis said.
Neighbors said the O’Shells moved into their home about six months ago.
“In a way, it makes it even more shocking,” said neighbor Kathy Martinez, commenting on the fact that the victims were police officers.
Adams County Social Services had taken custody of the couple’s baby and placed her in foster care, Martinez said police officers at the scene told her.
“It’s just really sad because that little girl doesn’t have a mom or a dad,” Martinez said.
She said the family kept to themselves and avoided contact with neighbors. Martinez said she was at home Monday and did not hear gunshots or an argument.
Homicide detectives were called to the home at 6:15 p.m. Monday and worked throughout the night at the scene collecting evidence, Sandoval said.
