Northglenn Police believe that Johnson assaulted his estranged wife before barricading her outside a duplex and setting the structure on fire with him and the kids inside.
On February 23, according to the Northglenn PD, officers conducted a well-being check on Johnson's kids at the behest of their mother; she had reportedly filed for divorce a month earlier. At the time Johnson's car was pulled over by police, everything seemed fine, despite a blow-up between the two parents that had taken place only hours earlier in Aurora. The cops say Johnson was cooperative and the children didn't appear to have been harmed -- and since no charges had been filed against him in either Aurora or Northglenn, they had no choice but to let him go.
That's unfortunate, because a couple of hours later, the Northglenn force received another call from the mother, who was outside a residence on the 11000 block of York Street. She told responders that Bill had just assaulted her and was inside the duplex, potentially doing the same to the kids. But the actual situation was even worse: Cops soon discovered that the structure had been set ablaze.
Officers entered the home, but fire and heavy smoke forced them back out again; two of the cops had to be treated for smoke inhalation. They gave way to members of North Metro Fire Rescue, who were able to remove Bill and the kids from the duplex, but not before they suffered grievous injuries.
Days later, the kids are still at severe risk: A family friend told 9News that the girl has pneumonia, while the boy has serious smoke inhalation. Bill, too, remains in critical condition -- and if he recovers, he'll face the full wrath of the law. Charges being contemplated against him include two counts of attempted homicide, domestic violence and assault.
The latest: Mrs. Johnson has released the following statement:
"We want to say thank you to everyone for their prayer and support. If people wish to donate, they may go to any 1st Bank branch and donate to the Rosie Johnson Fund or any Wells Fargo branch and donate to the Little Heroes Fund. Thank you again for all the prayers and please continue to do so."
Look below to see a 9News report in the immediate aftermath of the fire.
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