Now, we know the identities of the dead: Shawn Kilker, 42, and his son Keith, fourteen, who Shawn apparently killed in a murder-suicide. Reports suggest that Shawn had previously beaten and abducted his wife, Denise, and threatened to "take out" his kids. Details and photos below.
See also: Travis Forbes Pleads Guilty to Kenia Monge Murder, Will Spend Rest of Life Behind Bars (24)
Shawn had been in trouble before for what appears to have been a fierce temper. In 2006, he reportedly choked his mother with a cord from a lamp, held her at gunpoint and said, "I'm going to kill you if you don't tell me where my children are."
He was subsequently arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and felony menacing, among other allegations. He pleaded guilty to the latter and was sentenced to four years' probation.
Then, on August 3, shortly before Monday morning's tragedy took place, the Weld County Sheriff's Office Most Wanted Facebook page posted about Kilker. Here's the graphic: The accompanying text reads:FUGITIVE : Shawn David KILKERThe reason for this alert, according to 7News, was a police report filed by Shawn's wife, Denise. Why? Denise, who's said to have been seeking a divorce, told authorities Shawn had kidnapped her, beat her and dragged her across a field approximately a month ago.WANTED FOR : ASSAULT -- KIDNAPPING, MENACING, CRIMINAL TRESPASS, FALSE IMPRISONMENT
Please share with your FB friends. KILKER was in the area of the Tomahawk Truck Stop in Brighton around 6:00 pm Friday, August 1 and may be in the Craig or Maybell, Colorado area. He was last seen driving a black 2003 Dodge 2500 pickup, Colorado license plate 498-EID, with a 4 wheel Arctic Cat Prowler in the bed. He is most likely traveling with a 14 year old male and a 20 year old male.
More recently, on July 30, he allegedly told his kids, including Keith, that he'd brought them into this world and he would take them out.
On Sunday the 3rd, Weld County deputies are said to have stopped by the Kilker home to arrest Shawn on a kidnapping warrant issued in his name, but he wasn't around. However, he returned from a camping trip around 5 p.m. on Monday, with Keith and others in tow.
Shortly thereafter, the standoff got underway. Two males and a female, with the latter ID'd as a daughter, were released, but Keith stuck around, apparently telling law enforcers that he was remaining by his own choice.At a certain point, communication between the Kilkers and the authorities ended. The SWAT team responded by using a camera to peer into the home -- and they caught sight of two bodies. At that point, the squad entered the building and found both Shawn and Keith dead.
Look below to see the aforementioned 7News report, followed by our original coverage.
Continue for our previous item about the two violent deaths in Keenesburg, including photos and more. Keenesburg is a small Weld County town that's not been immune to violence. You'll recall that killer Travis Forbes buried the body of Kenia Monge under a cottonwood tree near there several years back. But the events of a few hours ago will no doubt prove shocking to members of the community, as well they should.Earlier this morning, law enforcers involved in a standoff with an alleged kidnapper made a grisly discovery: two bodies, one of whom is thought to be a juvenile family member of the other. Here's what we know at this writing.
According to its Wiki page, Keenesburg has a population in the range of 1,200, making its listed motto -- "Home of 500 happy people and a few sore heads" -- mathematically out of date. Thus far, most of the town remains unrecorded by the folks at Google, but here's a look at its downtown. If you have problems seeing the image, click "View Larger Map."
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The most up-to-date information we've been able to find thus far about this incident comes courtesy of 9News reporter Noel Brennan, who came on the scene after events began to spiral out of control. Here's his first tweet from the scene:
Breaking: Keenesburg standoff ends, man & juvenile found dead w/ gunshot wounds inside home http://t.co/NcikGsKGHm #9newsmornings
— Noel Brennan (@Noeltbrennan) August 5, 2014
According to Brennan's reporting on the 9News website, deputies with the Weld County Sheriff's Office arrived at the 400 block of East Kaiser Avenue at around 6 p.m. yesterday to serve a kidnapping warrant.
Rather than surrendering to authorities, the suspect is said to have barricaded himself inside the residence, necessitating dispatch of a SWAT team and reverse 911 calls to get neighbors out of harm's way.
As of last night, both parties were said to be fine. But that changed around 1:30 a.m., when a loud boom resounded from the house -- although it's currently unclear whether the explosion preceded a move by law enforcement mentioned in this Brennan tweet:Pepper spray the SWAT team used inside the home is being pushed out. So strong it's irritating our eyes from a block away #9newsmornings
— Noel Brennan (@Noeltbrennan) August 5, 2014
What investigators found was horrific. Brennan tweets:
SWAT discovered the 2 bodies after using a pole camera to see inside the home. They made entry about 1:30 a.m. #9newsmornings
— Noel Brennan (@Noeltbrennan) August 5, 2014
Thus far, neither of the dead has been identified. But there's no doubt that a tragedy has taken place.
Send your story tips to the author, Michael Roberts.