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This morning's Denver Post leads with a report about the decline of Denver's murder rate in 2009, mirroring a national trend. But that hardly means slayings have become rarities in the metro area. Indeed, there were several during the last two weeks of the past decade, and more since the start of the new year.
Today, we play catch-up, beginning with a December 22 incident of family dysfunction taken to deadly extremes.
According to the Aurora Police Department, a shooting took place at 19287 East 22nd Drive, an area captured in the graphic above (if you have problems seeing the image, click "View Larger Map"). The victim was Eleanor Joann Sears, 75 -- and the alleged shooter was her daughter, Cristina Sears. To complete the picture of pre-holiday warmth, two children, ages three and six, were in the home at the time of the killing. Look below for a pair of APD releases about the crime.
December 23, 2009Homicide
CASE NUMBER: 2009.51357
The Aurora Police Department has identified the deceased victim of the shooting yesterday afternoon as 75-year-old Eleanor Joann Sears.
The suspect in the shooting, Cristina Sears, has been charged with 1st Degree Homicide and is on a no bond hold in the Adams County Jail.
Cristina Sears is the daughter of victim Eleanor Sears. The surviving shooting victim is the step sister of Cristina Sears. Her name is not being released.
Information released 12.22.2009
At approximately 3:30 this afternoon Aurora Public Communications received two 911 calls reference a shooting at 19287 East 22nd Drive.
Responding officers found two female victims, 49 and 72 years old, suffering from gunshot wounds inside the residence at that location. Both were transported to local hospitals with life-threatening injuries.
The 72- year -old victim succumbed to her wound(s) and was pronounced dead at the hospital shortly after 5:00 p.m.
A 3-year-old child and a 6-year-old child were in a different area of the residence at the time of the shooting and were physically unharmed. Both children were in the care of one of the victims.
Responding officers quickly gathered information from witnesses as to the identity of the suspect, who had fled the scene in a vehicle prior to the officers arriving.
At approximately 4:50 p.m. uniform and non-uniform officers from the Aurora Police Department arrested the 44-year-old female suspect without incident at the Sand Creek Lounge near East Iliff Avenue and South Buckley Road.
Investigators from the Major Crimes/Homicide Unit also responded to the scene and are actively working the case.
Initial information indicates that there was some sort of on-going family dispute between the suspect and one or both of the victims.
The identities of the suspect and victims are not being released at this time.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Mark Yacano at 303.739.6090.
