A Colorado community has been rocked by the death of a 5-year-old boy earlier this week. What came next was shocking: news that the boy’s older brother, 11, is facing charges for his murder.
Authorities in Arapahoe County responded to a home the evening of March 10 for the death of the 5-year-old in Centennial, a city just outside of Denver with just under 110,000 residents. According to the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office, the case is being investigated as a homicide.
The 11-year-old was taken into custody and is being held at a juvenile facility, the sheriff’s office said. He is facing charges of first-degree murder. A cause of death is under investigation and was not specified by the sheriff’s office.
The identities of both children are being withheld and information will be limited because they are minors, the sheriff’s office said.
“Our hearts go out to the family of these two young boys and to everyone in our community who is grieving this loss,” Sheriff Tyler Brown said in a statement. “Cases involving the homicide of children are among the most difficult our deputies and investigators face.”
“Our team is fully committed to a thorough investigation, and we will continue working tirelessly to determine exactly what happened. We know tragedies like this impact not only the family, but also classmates, teachers, and neighbors throughout the community. We appreciate the support and patience of the public as our investigators work to gather the facts and pursue justice in this case.”
There is no danger to the community, the sheriff’s office said.
The 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office told the Denver Gazette that formal charges for the 11-year-old would come next week.
Under Colorado law, an 11-year-old can be held criminally responsible in the juvenile justice system; the state prohibits criminal charges against a child younger than 10. A child over 12 can be charged as an adult in serious cases.
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