COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Two children are dead and a father is recovering in the hospital after a 19-year-old reportedly went on a stabbing spree in an El Paso County home early Tuesday.
Police arrested Malik Vincent Murphy on two counts of first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder. Reports released after the teen's arrest detailed Murphy's past, along with details from the stabbing.
Tuesday afternoon, the El Paso County Coroner's Office identified the children as 5-year-old Sophia Murphy and 7-year-old Noah Murphy.
Murphy's father revealed information while in the hospital to police, including that he believed his son had talked about killing in the past.
Jefferson Murphy, the father of Murphy and both children who died from their injuries, suffered stab wounds to the neck area, but was able to hold his son down until police got to the bloody scene.
Documents released on Tuesday show Mr. Murphy woke up when he heard screaming in the basement of his family home, and was attacked by his son when he walked into the basement.
"Jefferson Murphy told [police] that Malik Murphy had talked about doing this previously," the documents read.
The teen eventually spoke to police while in their custody, saying he often has "homicidal ideations" and decided before stabbing the two children that he wanted to be "alone."
He told police that he purchased the knife used in the attack at a Wal-Mart months ago after deciding then to kill his family so he could live alone.
The teen revealed to police he "was going to kill his family" and "bury them in the backyard."
Murphy said his son slept in the same room with his brother and sister, which is where the attack occurred.
While talking to police, the teen said he believed he stabbed his brother and sister — identified as 5- and 7-years-old — three times each.
During the recounting of events, police said Malik told them he remembered his sister yelling his name when he stabbed her.
Family members, many of which live in Nebraska, are responding to Colorado Springs to attend to Mr. Murphy, who is said to be recovering well from his stab wounds, and Murphy's wife.
Terry Mason, Malik's grandfather, told Denver7's Molly Hendrickson he is "devastated and loved [his grandchildren] to death."
Mason said he didn't realize Malik harbored homicidal tendencies.
Neighbors of the slain children gathered at Flanagan Park Tuesday night to remember the children.
Neighbors gather together to pray and show support. They organized this vigil for two young kids who were stabbed. pic.twitter.com/pIGgzm6YD1
— Liz Gelardi (@LizGelardi) October 18, 2017
Neighbors at the vigil said they were shocked by the news, and one said it would take "a really long time" to get over the incident.
"I feel like this is what we needed," said neighbor Brittany Weiser.
"It's been very difficult. It's really hard on everyone," said another neighbor, Ashlee Wadsworth. "I mean even if you didn't know the little girl or the little boy, it's really hard to see that this happened."
"Complete, utter shock," neighbor Lynn Nudson said of learning about the murders. "I mean, we see the guy walking around every once in a while down the street, out playing with the kids. For him to just want to be alone, there's no reason for it. No rhyme or reason."
Denver7 is continuing to follow this developing story. Tap here to read coverage from this morning.
