LA JUNTA — The Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the La Junta Police Department are investigating an apparent murder-suicide inside a home on Smithland Avenue Tuesday night.
The CBI said La Junta Police officers responded to the home around 11:30 p.m. and found two adults and one child shot dead.
The agency said another child was taken to a Denver-area hospital where they later died. Authorities have not released the ages or identities of the victims.
La Teasha Ortega and Ramona Garcia said they're friends of the mother who was killed inside the home. They said she lived there with her two children. Police have not confirmed who the shooter was, but Ortega and Garcia said it was their friend's ex-husband.
"She wanted out of the marriage. She left and she fought so hard to get away. When she finally did she was starting to become happy again... I don't know if it's just something he couldn't handle or just wasn't ready to let go of yet," said Garcia.
News5 is not naming the victims of the shooting until police confirm their identities. Ruben Romero, a neighbor living two doors down the street, said the woman who was killed had recently told him to watch out for her ex-partner. He said he immediately knew she was in danger when he heard gunshots near his home Tuesday night.
"She told me he's not supposed to be here. I'm like, 'He came back,'” Romero said. "He could've took out more people if he wanted to be on a rampage or something. I don't know his mental state but it seemed like he knew what he was doing. He came here for one thing and it was to end life."
If you or someone you know is in crisis, remember you are not alone. The State of Colorado offers the following crisis resources:
- Call 844-493-TALK (8255)
- Text TALK to 38255
To access 988, the nationwide mental health and substance use helpline:
- Call or text: 988
- Chat: 988lifeline.org
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