The death of a 5-year-old boy earlier this week has left a Colorado community reeling. What came next was shocking. The news is that the boy’s older brother (11) has been charged with murder.
On the night of March 10, Arapahoe County authorities responded to a home in Centennial, a suburb of Denver with a population of just under 110,000, where a 5-year-old child had died. The incident is being investigated as a homicide, according to the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office.
The 11-year-old boy was taken into custody and is being held in a juvenile facility, according to the sheriff’s office. He is charged with first-degree murder. The cause of death is under investigation but has not been released by the sheriff’s office.
The identities of the two children are being withheld and information is limited because they are minors, the sheriff’s office said.
“Our hearts go out to the families of these two boys and to the community as they grieve this loss,” Sheriff Tyler Brown said in a statement. “Cases involving child homicide are some of the most difficult cases faced by our nation’s lawmakers and investigators.”
“Our team is fully committed to a thorough investigation and will continue to work tirelessly to uncover exactly what happened. We know that tragedies like this impact not only the family, but also classmates, teachers, and neighbors throughout the community. We appreciate the public’s support and patience as our investigators work to gather the facts and pursue justice in this case.”
The sheriff’s office said there is no danger to the community.
The 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office told the Denver Gazette that formal charges against the 11-year-old boy are expected next week.
Under Colorado law, boys as young as 11 can face criminal charges in the juvenile justice system. The state prohibits criminal charges against children under 10 years of age. In serious cases, children over the age of 12 may also be charged as adults.
