CENTENNIAL, Colo. (TCN) — An 11-year-old boy is in custody facing first-degree murder charges in connection with the death of his 5-year-old brother.
The Denver Gazette reports officers responded to a home on the afternoon of March 10 after getting a report of a dead 5-year-old boy inside. According to KDVR, the victim’s brother, 11, was named as the suspect the next day and the case was being investigated as a homicide. Neither child’s name has been released by authorities.
According to the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office, the suspect has been taken into custody and is being held at Marvin W. Foote Youth Services Center on suspicion of first-degree murder, KDVR reports.
The Denver Gazette reports that under Colorado law, children as young as 10 can be charged criminally. A first-degree murder charge indicates premeditation. A spokesperson for the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office told the outlet that court records for juvenile cases are not typically made public, but exceptions include when the child is being charged as an adult. The spokesperson said this case is being heard in juvenile court.
In a statement, Sheriff Tyler Brown said, “Cases involving the homicide of children are among the most difficult our deputies and investigators face.”
The victim was a kindergarten student. According to KDVR, a neighbor said, “The little boy was so sweet. He would come over and ask my son for help to fix his scooter. He was so little and so cute. One of those people you just want to hug and help.”
The investigation is active.
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