6-Year-Old Killed In Apartment Of Alleged Sexual Assault, Deputy Hurt Responding To Scene
ARAPAHOE COUNTY, Colo. (CBS4) - Police say a 6-year-old was murdered in the same apartment where there was an alleged sexual assault in Arapahoe County.
A veteran Arapahoe County deputy was also severely hurt after getting into a multi-car crash on the way to the crime scene.
The officer was described as being in critical but stable condition at the hospital. That deputy's name hasn't been released, but police said he has been with the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office since 1990.
The crash occurred in the 8300 block of East Iliff Avenue.
The homicide took place inside the Westwood apartment building in the 7500 block of East Harvard Avenue, which is near the intersection of East Iliff Avenue and South Quebec Street.
Police responded at 5 a.m. to the crime scene. They said there was an emergency call about a sex assault that had taken place there. Once officers arrived and sorted out the situation they pieced together the following details:
A woman was allegedly sexually assaulted at knife-point by her live-in partner, a male. The alleged victim ran out of the apartment and called 911 from a neighbor's home.
After approximately 30 minutes, police went into the apartment where the alleged assault took place and found a man injured with an apparent self-inflicted knife wound and a child dead. Another child -- a 2-year-old -- was also inside and unhurt.
"The woman making the report had been able to flee the apartment, called 911 from a neighbor's residence," sheriff's office spokesperson Julie Brooks said. "Deputies met with her … her apartment was quiet. They assembled a team and made entry … in the apartment, unfortunately, they found a 6-year-old deceased. Additionally they found a 2-year-old male unharmed as well as an adult male with what appeared to be self-inflicted wounds."
The apparent suspect's condition at the hospital hasn't been released.
Police said there is no danger to the public following the homicide.
"It's incredibly difficult, not only for the family, it's difficult for the investigators as well," Brooks said.
Police say the man is the father of both children but the woman is the mother of the 2-year-old child, but not the 6-year-old child who was killed. A judge has put a suppression order on the case so no names or more information can be released.
Neighbor's told CBS4 a vehicle being towed from the apartment complex belongs to the family involved in the investigation.
