A Denver coroner’s report Wednesday revealed new details in a murder-suicide involving a father and son Tuesday, including 40-year-old Damion Morine’s choice of a weapon, a shotgun.
Morine shot his 7-year-old son, Toby, in the chest as they sat in a vehicle in the alley-side garage of their home at 139 S. Bryant St. about 4:30 p.m., police said.
Morine’s death was ruled a suicide, and his son’s death was a homicide, according to the Denver Office of the Medical Examiner.
Police were asked to go to the home to check on Morine and his son Tuesday afternoon, on a report of a suicidal person. Both were dead when police arrived.
Public records show Morine had a troubled past involving money, alcohol and personal relationships.
He had rented a home on the same block as his son and ex-wife since November 2010, records indicate.
He settled a Chapter 7 bankruptcy in May 2010, citing more than $45,000 in debt.
He listed his occupation as a “production laborer” at the Freeport McMoran Henderson Mine in Empire, earning about $800 a week, before taxes, he reported to creditors.
In 2010, Morine received a warrant from the Colorado Department of Revenue for about $1,900 in unpaid taxes.
He had three drunken-driving arrests in Colorado in the 1990s and another in 2002. In 1999 Morine was arrested on a domestic-violence charge in Adams County, but the charge was later dropped, according to court records.
He was granted a divorce in Denver District Court in April 2010.
Debbie Vigel, a neighbor and family friend, told 9News that Morine wanted to reunite with his ex-wife.
“We were all very friendly to each other,” she said. “I saw him Saturday outside and he said, ‘Hi.’ “
Vigel said the boy was a bright spot on the block.
“He was a good kid. He had been over to the house a couple of times with his mom,” she told the TV station.
Joey Bunch: 303-954-1174 or jbunch@denverpost.com
