A 16-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of killing a 12-year old boy Thursday morning southeast of Durango.
Authorities initially described the incident as a double homicide in which a boy and a female of unknown age were killed. About 11:30 a.m., La Plata County spokesman Ted Holteen said only the boy was killed.
Law enforcement apprehended the suspect, Isaac Lawrence, in the 1200 block of Escalante Drive in south Durango, about 6 miles from the scene of the alleged crime after a manhunt that lasted over two hours. A resident of the Rocket Pointe apartment complex spotted Lawrence about 10:35 a.m.
Lawrence was tased by the La Plata County Sheriff’s Deputies who apprehended him, Holteen said. He did not have any weapons on him at the time.
Officers used drones and a helicopter from San Juan County, New Mexico, to search for the suspect.
The stabbing death was reported shortly before 8 a.m. in the Southwest Horizon Ranch on the Florida Mesa about a mile south of Elmore’s Corner, Holteen said.
A second victim, believed to be the suspect’s mother, sustained injuries from a blunt object attack and is being treated at Mercy Hospital in Durango.
Holteen stressed Thursday morning that the case and details of what happened remained extremely preliminary.
Residents within a 4-mile radius of Southwest Horizon Ranch had been advised to shelter in place before Lawrence was apprehended.
Lawrence was described as “very dangerous,” wearing all black with shaggy hair. He was believed to be between Elmore’s Corner and Mercy Hospital, according to a Code Red alert sent to residents.
This is a developing story. Check back with www.durangoherald.com for updates.
