Dad shoots girlfriend, murders toddler son; neighbors say he's "nice"? (Fountain, Colorado)

Let's see here. We have a freaking idiot who shot his girlfriend, his son's mother, as she was fleeing their home. She is currently in critical condition. Then dad GAMMAL PEREZ decided to up the Daddy Drama to a new level, by starting a standoff with the police--all while he has his todder son with him. And for his finale, he shot the son to death before offing himself.

And all the neighbors can say is that Daddy (and the family) "seemed nice"?

Puke. Two out of the three were nice. One was a rotten S.O.B.

http://www.coloradoconnection.com/news/story.aspx?id=619159

Neighbors react to Fountain murder-suicide Posted: 05.17.2011 at 8:47 PM Updated: 05.18.2011 at 5:10 AM

FOUNTAIN, COLO. -- Fountain police are continuing their investigation into the standoff turned murder-suicide in Fountain that left one man and his young son dead Monday.

Sources have identified the father as Gammal Perez, who was found shot to death near his toddler, Gavin. The two were found inside a home located at 7924 Gate Post Lane following a seven hour standoff with authorities. Perez barricaded himself and his son inside the home after police say he shot his girlfriend as she was running from the house. The El Paso County Sheriff has confirmed the woman shot is Shannon Paolini, a financial specialist at the sheriff's office. Paolini is in critical condition at a local hospital.

Neighbors in the area are shocked and saddened by yesterday's events. Though few knew the victims personally, many say they seemed like a happy family.

"They seemed so nice," Carolyn Williams said. "It is all so sad, very sad."

One day after tragedy struck on Gate Post Lane, residents still do not understand what drove a father to kill his son and shoot his girlfriend.

"If they had problems, they kept it inside," David Cooper said. "They never came outside arguing, at least not loud. No hints, that I received said something was going wrong."

Residents say this is not the first time something like this has happened in their neighborhood. That has some neighbors, like Williams, second guessing where they call home.

"It doesn't sit well with me, being a mom and have a 2-year-old daughter," Williams said. "There was a SWAT team here a few months ago, and it's not like it is a bad neighborhood, I guess you just got to know your neighbors. I want to move."

Other neighbors agreed and said they are looking to move their families, but Cooper disagrees. He says crime is going to happen no matter where you live.

"We like the area," he said. "We realize things are going to happen. But it is what it is."

While feeling safe in the neighborhood has residents on both sides of the fence, all hope for the best for Shannon Paolini.

"I wish her a speedy recovery," Cooper said. "I hope she pulls through, and I give her and her family my condolences."

"If the mom does pull through, I feel for her," Williams said. "She is going to wake up and realize her son is not there, and I can't imagine what that feels like."

The El Paso County Sheriff's Office released this statement Tuesday:

The El Paso County Sheriff's Office would like to send out some information regarding our friend and co-worker, Shannon Paolini. She has been employed with us since August 2007, and is a Financial Services Specialist. She is in critical condition at a local hospital and is fighting for her life. She is surrounded by friends and family.

Shannon is an amazing lady. She is never seen at work without a smile. Shannon’s greatest joy is her son and her family. She enjoys physical fitness, dancing, and spending time with family and friends. The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office is providing any and all assistance we can to Shannon and her family. In the near future we will be working to start a fund in Shannon’s name to assist her family with the financial struggles they will be facing in the future. We appreciate the kind words, thoughts and prayers from our community.

Sheriff Terry Maketa said, “Our thoughts and prayers are with Shannon, and all friends and family affected by these senseless and tragic events. We also recognize the loss felt by the family of the suspect and the loss of an innocent child.”

More details on the tragedy are expected to be released Wednesday, following the autopsies of Perez and his son.