Boy held after parents shot dead
A 12-year-old US boy who reported shots fired at his home is in custody after officers arrived to find his parents dead and two of his siblings in critical condition.
The boy called police on Tuesday evening to report at least three people had been shot at his eastern Colorado home, said Steve Johnson of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.
When officers arrived, they found the bodies of 50-year-old Charles Long and his wife, 51-year-old Marilyn Long. Two of their children were wounded – a five-year-old girl and a nine-year-old boy.
It was unclear whether the 12-year-old suffered any injuries.
Warrants in the case were sealed and authorities have not discussed possible motives. Investigators referred the case to prosecutors for possible filing of charges.
Mr Johnson said there are no other suspects and there’s no reason to believe there’s a continuing risk to the community of about 3,700 near the Kansas border.
Less than 24 hours after the shootings, friends gathered for a candlelight vigil on the pavement in front of the family’s house.
They said the Long children were home-schooled and the family was deeply religious, attending one neighbourhood church on Saturdays and another on Sundays.
The Longs had seven children, ranging from their mid-20s to five, and the younger children were home-schooled by Ms Long.
