Men Involved In Murder-Suicide May Have Been Business Partners
LAKEWOOD, Colo. (CBS4)- The two men involved in a murder-suicide in Littleton and Lakewood may have been business partners.
Police in Lakewood embarked on a manhunt Thursday afternoon at Bear Creek Park to find a murder suspect. They found the man's body a short time later, possibly dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
That man has been identified as Colin Collea.
Shots were fired Thursday afternoon and a sniper team was on scene in the park. Collea was described as possibly suicidal and may have been threatening officers before police believe he took his own life.
Officers said Collea, 58, was connected to a murder in Littleton.
Police in Littleton confirmed a man was shot inside a home located at 5931 S. Camargo Way.
That man has been identified as Ken Germain. Germain, 67, succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds.
The investigation into the shootings began when Lakewood Police Department received a 911 call from an unknown male reporting at shooting at about 1:21 p.m. Thursday.
Neighbors didn't know Germain but some who did said he made a lot of enemies after an alleged real estate scam.
"Devastated, and not just me, it devastated my financial life for the rest of my life and my children's lives and children's children," said Lisa Downing.
Downing said she wasn't shocked to learn how Germain died, "Not entirely surprised by it. He has damaged so many people's lives in so many ways."
Downing said that several years ago, Germain bilked her and 62 others out of millions through a real estate scam. She said Collea, Germain's suspected murderer, was an old business partner.
"He was part of EQ and he was kind of in the background. I remember he was kind of Ken's whipping boy," said Downing.
Germain was indicted in 2007 on theft and securities fraud. The case against him was thrown out because of technical issues.
Downing also showed CBS4 a private investigator's report on Germain. In the report, his past was filled with lawsuits and bankruptcies.
Downing believes whatever the reason for the murder, it's not a path to justice, "Really this is just another tragedy in this epic saga that Ken Germain created."
Police in Littleton continue to investigate the deadly shootings.
