Affidavit: Teen Tried Shooting Self Before Deputy In Grand Junction

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (AP) - Court documents say a teenager charged with killing a Mesa County sheriff's deputy told investigators he tried to shoot himself before turning the gun on the officer.

The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel reports 17-year-old Austin Patrick Holzer's statement to police was in an arrest warrant affidavit released Tuesday.

Holzer is charged with murder and other counts in the Feb. 8 shooting death of Mesa County Deputy Derek Geer, a married father of two.

Geer, who was buried Monday, was praised as a man committed to his family, job and community. So many people wanted to attend his church funeral that it was live-streamed at six other locations.

Geer was trying to arrest Holzer on charges of violating probation in a sex-assault case. Holzer was scheduled to appear in court Tuesday.

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