Father Shoots, Kills Daughter In Westminster, Then Shoots Self

WESTMINSTER, Colo. (CBS4) - Police in Westminster say a father shot and killed his 19-month-old daughter and then turned the gun on himself.

Investigators say Merrick McKoy, 22, shot his daughter Mia at her mother's apartment.

Police received calls about a shooting at 9:30 a.m. on Monday at the building located at 7030 Stuart Street. Authorities found an adult male and a 19-month-old girl who had both been shot. Both victims were taken to Denver hospitals where Mia was pronounced dead. Merrick McKoy's condition hasn't' been released.

"When the first officer arrived he heard a gunshot from inside the apartment. Officers entered the apartment and discovered the child and the adult male," police said in a statement.

According to Westminster police, a woman who had been in the residence called and told them she woke up to her ex-boyfriend standing over her with a gun. An altercation occurred and she exited the residence and told police the man was locked inside her apartment with her child.

The woman's family says while police tried to get in to the apartment the man was posting to his Facebook page disturbing messages about their relationship and a photo of him holding his daughter. The family says the photo was taken just before the shooting.

The woman, whose name hasn't been released, has a restraining order against Merrick McKoy.