MANITOU SPRINGS, Colo. -- Sheriff's deputies shot and killed a man suspected of killing his two young sons in his home before deputies arrived Sunday.
El Paso County sheriff's deputies were checking the man's home around 4:45 p.m. after the children's mother told authorities she was worried he might hurt their children, ages 2 and 5, sheriff's Lt. Lari Sevene said.
Deputies who arrived in the gated mountain community got no answer at the door and looked through a window to see two boys laying on the bed with a "significant of blood on or around them," Sevene said.
She could not confirm what injuries they had or how they might have been injured but the sight of so much blood in the bedroom forced deputies to act quickly.
Deputies burst into the home and were confronted by the father, who was wielding a knife, so they opened fire, Sevene said. She said a deputy shot the man, who died.
The children did not survive either.
Their father was identified as 37-year-old Scott Montgomery. He was set to go to trial court in July to face charges of domestic violence.
Deputies said it wasn't clear if the Montgomery and his wife were separated or divorced but a neighbor who spoke with KRDO-TV said the couple was going through a bitter custody battle.
Autopsies were performed Monday on 5-year-old Skyler Montgomery and 21-month-old Canyon Montgomery. The coroner's office indicated there were no obvious signs of trauma to either child but toxicology results are pending.
What initially looked like blood on the children was actually blood from their father, from self-inflicted wounds, Sevene said.
An autopsy on Scott Montgomery will be performed on Tuesday.
An investigation into the deputy-involved shooting is being conducted by investigators from the El Paso County District Attorney's Office. The deputy was on leave Monday, which is standard procedure in a fatal shooting.
The home where the shootings occurred is at 6241 Waterfall Loop, which is located in the unincorporated Crystal Park community above Manitou Springs, outside Colorado Springs.
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