Father Fatally Shot by Ex-Partner's Fiancé in Custody Exchange, Police Say

A father was fatally shot in a fight with his ex-girlfriend's fiancé during a child custody exchange, authorities in Colorado said.

The ex-girlfriend's fiancé, Jeffrey Church, was arrested in connection with the shooting on Sunday, the Elbert County Sheriff's Office said in a news release posted on Facebook.

Deputies had responded to the 500 block of County Road 166 in Parker at around 3 p.m. that day after receiving a report that two men were fighting and that one had shot the other man in the chest, the sheriff's office said.

The shooting victim was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. His name was not released, but the sheriff's office said he was a 36-year-old from Parker who was at the location for a custody exchange involving his 4-year-old daughter with his ex-girlfriend.

"The ex-girlfriend's fiancé and the victim became involved in a physical fight," the sheriff's office said. "The suspect then produced a handgun and allegedly shot the victim."

An Elbert County deputy who was the first law enforcement officer to arrive on the scene located Church, a 26-year-old Colorado Springs resident, and held him until additional deputies arrived.

The deputy then began CPR and other lifesaving efforts on the father. When the scene was secured, fire rescue personnel took over those efforts until the man was taken to the hospital.

Church was booked into custody on first-degree murder charges.

The sheriff's office said that the incident was isolated and that there was no ongoing danger to the community. "This is still an active and ongoing investigation, and additional information may be released as it becomes available," the office said.

Newsweek has contacted the sheriff's office for further comment via email and social media.

Social media users responded to the office's Facebook post with messages of sympathy for the victim's daughter.

"Poor little girl lost her dad to needless violence," one person wrote in a comment on the post.

Another wrote: "Innocent children caught in the middle of ugliness...this poor child has now lost her daddy."

Another person wrote: "How heartbreaking that the poor little girl had to witness this."

And another said: "Lots of hugs and prayers for this family, especially the 4-year-old who was exposed to such horrific events."

Update 2/13/24, 10:51 a.m. ET: This story has been updated with additional information.