WELD COUNTY — The three boys sat on the curb with their heads slumped down, staring at their shoes and quietly sobbing.
They had planned to spend the day with their buddy, 11-year-old Andre Limas, playing pickup football. Instead, they mourned the death of their playmate who police say was fatally shot in the chest by his 18-year-old brother in an accident Friday.
“I don’t know why I keep crying,” said Jabari Nira, 10. “Every time someone else cries, I start crying.”
Jordan Limas is being held in the Weld County jail on $30,000 bail. He was advised in Weld County Court on Saturday that he is being held for investigation of the charge of criminally negligent homicide in his younger brother’s death.
The boys’ father, David Limas, 42, said, “This was just an ugly, stupid, terrible accident.”
He said the family is rallying around his son Jordan and that there is no “ill will” as a result of the incident.
The shooting happened around 5 p.m. in the 4200 block of Grand Teton Road in unincorporated Weld County south of Greeley, said Tim Schwartz, spokesman for the Weld County Sheriff’s Office.
The boy was pronounced dead at 6:19 p.m., Schwartz said.
The coroner ruled that Andre’s death was an accident.
David Limas said Jordan was trying to protect his younger brother when the gun fired. He has not been able to speak with his son since the shooting.
“I don’t want anyone to think we allow firearms in our house for one second,” he said. “My kids know that. It’s very traumatic. Not only did we lose Andre, but now we face losing Jordan.”
David Limas said he doesn’t know how the gun ended up in his house.
Jordan Limas, the second of three sons, was watching his younger brother and his own two kids when the accident happened.
Police are investigating how Limas was able to purchase the .22-caliber handgun used in the shooting. The 18-year-old faces the negligence charge because he left the gun loaded and in a place where his brother could access it.
Alberto Alarcon, 11, heard the gunshot and then the loud cries of Jordan screaming, “Andre! Andre!”
“I was hoping it wasn’t Andre,” said another of Andre’s friends, Joshua Garcia, 12, who also heard the shot and cries.
All three of Andre Limas’ friends said Jordan was a good older brother who looked out for him and played basketball with him.
“Jordan would do anything for him,” David Limas said. “Jordan did love his brother. He’s in shock now.”
His youngest son was eager to please others. On the weekends, he would get up early and make coffee.
David Limas said he also is concerned about his oldest son, Steve Limas, who is in the Army and scheduled to go to Afghanistan soon.
“He’s not going to be in the right state of mind,” he said. “I don’t think he will be focused. Right now, his main concern is for Jordan.”
On Sunday, a dance at El Carousel Nightclub, 510 25th St., will raise money for medical and attorney’s fees for the Limas family. People also may make contributions through Wells Fargo Bank at the Andre Limas Foundation.
David Limas said he hopes other parents can learn from his family’s tragedy.
“We need to get guns off the street and away from children. Look what can happen,” he said.
Kirk Mitchell: 303-954-1206 or
