Confirmed: Dad killed 4-year-old son in murder-suicide (Thornton, Colorado)

I just knew this case was going to turn out to be a murder-suicide. Notice the typical praise for a father who put a bullet through the brains of a 4-year-old child. Unfortunately, this is not unusual. Child killers (at least if their fathers) get kid-glove treatment pretty much as a matter of course. Named as a "victim" of all things. No, not a victim. A murderer who committed an extremely cruel and selfish act. Dad is identified as KEVIN RAY BRISTOL.

http://www.9news.com/news/local/article/267443/346/Shooting-deaths-of-dad-son-deemed-murder-suicide

Shooting deaths of dad, son deemed murder-suicide

12:28 PM, May 10, 2012

Written by Blair Shiff

THORNTON - A fatal shooting that claimed two victims Tuesday morning has been deemed a murder-suicide according to Thornton Police.

Investigators from the Thornton Police Department, Colorado Bureau of Investigation, and Adams County Coroners Office concluded Kevin Ray Bristol murdered his 4-year-old son, Michael David Bristol, and then committed suicide.

Kevin Bristol died from a self-inflicted single gunshot wound to the head from a .22-caliber weapon. Michael Bristol died from a single gunshot wound to the head from that same weapon.

At 12:12 a.m. on Tuesday, police were called to the 9200 block of High Street on reports of a possible shooting involving two people.

Responding officers discovered a man and a child - later identified as Kevin and Michael Bristol - both suffering from gunshot wounds inside the home. Both were transported to a local hospital in critical condition.

Michael was pronounced dead at the hospital. The father - Kevin - was in critical condition until Wednesday morning.

The family released a statement on Tuesday evening: "Kevin is a wonderful father who loves his family deeply. This is an impossibly difficult time for our family and we ask for people to respect our privacy. We are devastated by these tragic events and greatly appreciate the prayers for our family."

According to Thornton Police, Bristol's wife found them and called 911.
"Something woke her up, not sure what that was. She checked on her husband and child and they were suffering from gunshot wounds," Officer Matt Barnes with Thornton Police said.

Barnes says she found Bristol and Michael in a back bedroom together. It is unknown at this time where Mrs. Bristol was at the time of the murder-suicide. Police originally told 9NEWS Mrs. Bristol heard "noise" and went to check on her husband and son. Police have not said if Mrs. Bristol heard gunshots that prompted her to check in her family.

There were no other children in the home. Barnes says investigators also found another handgun inside the home, but he did not know if they are registered.

9NEWS has learned that Bristol worked for Thornton Home Repair for six or seven years. His employer said he was a good employee.

"They kind of kept to themselves. They were a younger couple," David Arguello, a neighbor, said. "He was a nice guy. I'd be out here shoveling snow, and he'd come out and help me out, didn't have to ask him."

"They got along good, he got an attachment for the back of his motorcycle for his son to sit in, a carrier-type thing, they dressed alike, they did everything together. It's just sad and crazy that something like this would happen," Nathon Archuleta, a neighbor, said.

A neighbor, who didn't want to talk on camera but has known the family for four years, says Bristol and his wife had experienced issues in their family over the past year.

Thornton Police could not elaborate if the couple was going through a divorce or separation. Thornton Police also couldn't not comment on the nature of the couple's problems that the neighbor claimed.
"Kind of a shock. It's not right," Arguello said.

"He was always up and down the street with his dad. The dad had a motorcycle, so he'd go up and down the street. He seemed like a very good father, very good father - did things with his son," Carmen Garcia, another neighbor said.

Police say they were called to the home several times in 2011 for unrelated issues. Barnes says the incidents were not related to disturbances or domestic violence. Bristol did have a criminal record. He was found guilty of misdemeanor theft in 2000 and was arrested for DUI in 2007.
"[This has] always been a very, very good block, no problems. That's why this is a surprise to see and hear something across the street from here. Especially the little boy - sad," Garcia said.