A 19-year-old man has been accused of fatally stabbing his two younger siblings, who were found dead in their home, because he wanted to "be alone".
Police responded to a call at the home in Colorado in in the early hours of Tuesday morning, where they found the three victims, including his father who is recovering in hospital.
The suspect, Malik Murphy, was arrested after the brutal attacks on his 5-year-old sister and 7-year-old brother.
He is facing two counts of first degree murder, one for each of his younger siblings.
He is also facing one count of attempted first degree murder, as his father recovers in hospital.
Arrest papers obtained by
11 News, the children's father told cops that he was sleeping in his bedroom when he heard screaming in the basement, where the three children shared a room.
The dad went to go check on them, which is when he was attacked by the suspect.
He was able to detain Murphy in the garage until the police arrived at the scene.
https://twitter.com/CSPDPIO/status/920300107022573568
9News report that according to Murphy's arrest affidavit, the teenager had told an investigating detective he often experiences "homicidal ideations".
He also told detectives that on the date of the incident, he had decided he "wanted to be alone in the residence".
One neighbour paid tribute to the "really sweet kids" following the attack, adding that he often saw them while on the way home from work.
Gilbert Macias told the
Colorado Springs Gazette:
"They have a basketball hoop, usually playing basketball. Now that it's fall, they were out tossing the football."
Another neighbour, Stephanie Bellacicco, said:
"I watched the first ambulance pull away with its lights on. The second turned its lights off, and that's when I knew someone died.
"It's terrible when anyone dies, much less a child."
