Prosecutors Considers Death Penalty In Killing Of Doctor
ARAPAHOE COUNTY, Colo. (CBS4) - The prosecution is considering seeking the death penalty in the case of a man accused of shooting his wife and two neighbors, one of whom was killed.
The arraignment for Kevin Lyons, 46, was continued on Friday. Last month, a judge in Arapahoe County Court deemed him competent to stand trial, despite his outbursts in court and vocal opposition to his public defenders.
Lyons is facing 12 felony counts, including one count of first degree murder after deliberation. He is accused of shooting and killing a beloved doctor in his Centennial neighborhood, Kenneth Atkinson, as well as shooting and wounding two women, one of them his wife.
The shooting happened April 4 in Lyons' front yard. Atkinson ran out of his home to stop Lyons from shooting his wife but was shot in the head and died. The second woman, Laurie Juergens, was shot in the face while trying to help.
The prosecution commented on why they will consider whether the death penalty would be appropriate.
"One is the manner of the murder, how it occurred, whether multiple people were at risk of death, those are the types of factors," said 18th Judicial District Chief Deputy District Attorney Elizabeth Oldham.
On Friday, friends and family of Atkinson were in the courtroom. One family friend told CBS4 most of them planned to be in court to follow the case every step of the way.
The arraignment was continued until Nov. 21.