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15-year-old girl accused of murdering 44-year-old man

Joseph Johnson was found dead Tuesday after Brighton officers responded to his home for a welfare check. The teen suspect was arrested in Castle Rock.

BRIGHTON, Colo. — A 15-year-old girl is in custody and accused of fatally shooting a 44-year-old man who was found dead in his home after Brighton officers responded there for a welfare check early Tuesday.

Just after midnight, officers went to the home on the 400 block of North 6th Avenue to check on 44-year-old Joseph Johnson who had not been heard from in several days, Brighton Police said in a release.

Credit: KUSA

The officers spotted an unresponsive person in the home and made entry. Once inside, they discovered Johnson deceased and observed several gunshot wounds. 

Detectives identified a 15-year-old girl as a suspect in the case. She was arrested on Tuesday around 1 p.m. in Castle Rock. She was transported to Brighton Police Department for processing and then booked into Prairie Vista Youth Services Detention Center on charges of murder and motor vehicle theft. 

Police said the suspect and victim knew each other. 

The suspect's name is not being released at this time due to her age.  

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