Two little girls from Aurora who had been the object of a nationwide Amber Alert were found safe Tuesday night after their father reportedly shot himself in Thornton.
A manhunt for Brian Patterson, 38, ended in Thornton about 10 p.m., police said. A woman described by police as “probably” the girls’ mother was found dead in the Pattersons’ home Tuesday morning.
The daughters — 4-year-old Brianna and 3-year-old Aliyah — were taken by police. Their father reportedly shot himself at Thornton Parkway and Race Street inside his car, which was still sitting in the westbound lane of Thornton Parkway after midnight.
Police did not release Patterson’s condition or information about how the girls were taken from their father Tuesday night.
Brian Patterson was taken to a local hospital, and his condition was not immediately known.
The search for the three began before 11 a.m., when a woman was found shot to death in the family’s red-brick and gray-vinyl ranch home in the 17000 block of East Louisiana Avenue in Aurora.
The woman had not been identified by name, “but she probably is the mother,” Aurora police Detective Shannon Lucy said.
The girls’ mother, Pamela Patterson, filed for divorce from Brian Patterson in January.
At an 8 p.m. news conference, before Brian Patterson was tracked down, Aurora Police Chief Daniel Oates said he feared the worst.
“We are concerned about Mr. Patterson and his mind-set. Given the circumstances inside (the home), I think it’s a safe assumption that he might be armed.”
An arrest warrant issued for Patterson included domestic violence and third-degree assault charges connected to an argument with his wife Monday night.
Police issued an Amber Alert for Colorado soon after, then broadened it to surrounding states before ultimately making it a nationwide search after learning Patterson might be headed to California, Texas or Illinois, where he has family and friends.
Patterson’s divorce attorney, Wazir-Ali Muhammed, said he visited his client and children Sunday.
“Everything seemed great,” he said. “We were joking and laughing and having a good time.”
Muhammed was once married to Patterson’s mother.
“He’s been a good man, a good father, a good husband, that’s how I would summarize him,” Muhammed said.
He said the Amber Alert lacked legal merit because Patterson had custody of the girls, which negates an accusation that they were abducted.
Neighbors said police were at the home last weekend to break up an argument between the couple, which Lucy confirmed without elaborating.
Patterson was arrested on domestic violence charges in 1995, as well as charges on traffic offenses, soliciting prostitutes and failure to appear on other charges, according to public records.
Neighbors said the family was quiet and friendly.
“To our surprise something like this happens,” Mike Pluguez said.
Another neighbor, Sheri Monaco, added, “I’ve met him and the kids a couple of times, and they seemed nice.”
