Police: Love Triangle Led To Boy's Death

DENVER -- The 2-year-old boy shot to death in his father's arms was an innocent victim of a love triangle gone awry, according to court documents released Monday.

At least one of the several bullets fired at Noah Crookham and his father struck his father's hand and pierced the toddler's body, killing him almost instantly, police said. Thomas Crookham, 30, clutched at his son's body as it went limp.

Police identify the shooter as 41-year-old Earl Ryan, a family friend who lived in the basement of the family's Congress Park home and who had been "intimate at least once," with the boy's mother, Angela, when his parents were estranged, according to the police statement of probable cause.

Ryan was an acquaintance from the Crookham's hometown of Cincinnati and started renting the room in the basement in June to help Angela with the rent after Thomas moved out, the Crookhams said. Angela had asked Ryan to move out, but he refused, Thomas said.

Thomas and Angela had been separated for a year, and Thomas was living in a different house, but the couple was trying to reconcile, they told police. The Crookham family attended mass Sunday morning and returned to the duplex to have breakfast together, Thomas Crookham told police.

Ryan confronted Thomas on the stairwell as Angela went downstairs to do laundry.

"(Ryan) asked Angela how long Thomas was going to be here and Angela stated it was apparent to her that Earl was angry," according to the police statement.

The argument between the two men escalated until Ryan ran back down to his room and told Angela "This is it," Angela told police.

When Earl sprinted up the stairs carrying a gun, Thomas Crookham yelled, "He's got a gun!" and then he tried to run away, carrying his son on his hip, Thomas told police.

"(Thomas) heard a series of gun shots, about three, as he was running ... He then felt a burning pain in his right hand, then he noticed that his son went limp and saw blood on his son's back," the statement said.

"You could see where the bullet had entered the child. He was limp and turning blue. I grabbed a blanket, and a towel for (Thomas), for his hand," said a witness, who only wished to be identified as Darrin.

Thomas ran across the street and called 911 from his cellphone and Angela ran out the back door onto the street. She said when she looked back, she saw "Earl with the gun in his left hand firing it towards the direction of Thomas and Noah," according to the police statement.

Minutes later, as officers responded to reports of gunshots near 12th Avenue and Madison Street, Ryan was on the porch, with a gun pointed to his head.

"I am sorry. I did not mean to shoot anyone. I am sorry. Tell them that I am sorry," Ryan said, according to the police statement.

Noah was rushed to Rose Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

Ryan appeared in court Monday, and was advised he was being held for investigation of first-degree murder, child abuse resulting in death, attempted first-degree murder and first-degree assault. He appeared in court wearing a full-length lead apron and shackles. Court officials say the lead apron was to prevent him from hurting himself.

He is being held without bond and was ordered not to contact the Crookhams. Neighbors said Ryan is a good man.

"It's extremely sad," Jacquette Tara told 7NEWS. "Like all children, (Noah) was just a blessing from God. He was a beautiful, beautiful child, truly, in every aspect. He brought great joy to everybody around him."

Ryan has lived in three states since 2000 and has no previous criminal charges in any of them, according to court records.

Ryan was arrested Sunday afternoon following a two-and-a-half hour standoff with police. He surrendered without incident around 12:30 p.m. after talking with police negotiators.

Crime scene investigators returned to the home Monday and used a laser light to determine the bullets' projections. They said at least one bullet struck a house across the street.