FOUNTAIN, Colo. – A quiet suburban street in Fountain became the scene of an unthinkable tragedy on Thursday morning when a beloved mother of three was shot and killed by her ex-husband in a murder-suicide, all while the couple’s three young children were inside the home. The Fountain Police Department has identified the victim as 32-year-old Amanda Julia “AJ” Carter.

The horrific incident unfolded around 11:00 a.m. in the 1500 block of Bonita Drive. Police were initially called to the residence for a “disturbance.” Upon entering the home, they made a grim discovery: the bodies of Amanda Carter and her ex-husband, the father of her children. Investigators have confirmed that the man, whose name has not yet been officially released, shot and killed Carter before turning the gun on himself.

The couple’s three children—13-year-old Kora, 3-year-old Hudson, and 7-month-old Aspen—were found physically unharmed inside the residence and have since been placed in the care of relatives. The tragedy has sent a shockwave of grief and horror through the Fountain and Colorado Springs communities, and has cast a harsh spotlight on a history of domestic abuse that preceded the fatal encounter.

“She had a three-year-old, a seven-month-old, and a 13-year-old. Who’s going to take care of those poor kids now?” Carter’s heartbroken grandmother, Brigitte Juroska, said in the wake of the tragedy. “It’s a nightmare you can’t wake up from.”

A Morning Shattered: The Scene on Bonita Drive

The call that came into the Fountain Public Safety Communications Center at 11:06 a.m. on Thursday was for a “disturbance,” a term that can encompass anything from a loud argument to the scene of a violent crime. The response from the Fountain Police Department was immediate.

When officers arrived at the home in the 1500 block of Bonita Drive, they were met with a scene of profound tragedy. Inside, they located the bodies of Amanda Carter and her ex-husband, both deceased from apparent gunshot wounds in what was quickly determined to be a murder-suicide.

The officers’ immediate and most critical priority became the welfare of the three children known to live in the home. They located Kora, Hudson, and Aspen inside the residence. While physically safe, the children had been present in the house when their mother was murdered by their father. They were carefully and gently removed from the scene by officers trained in trauma response and have been placed with family members, who now face the monumental task of helping them navigate a future without their parents.

As the children were being cared for, the home was sealed off with crime scene tape, and a full-scale investigation was launched. Detectives with the Fountain Police Department, along with the El Paso County Coroner’s Office, spent the remainder of the day and into the evening meticulously processing the scene, collecting evidence, and piecing together the final, tragic moments of Amanda Carter’s life. The street, normally filled with the sounds of a quiet neighborhood, was instead lined with police vehicles and news vans as shocked neighbors looked on, struggling to comprehend the violence that had just occurred.

Remembering Amanda “AJ” Carter: A Devoted Mother

Amanda Julia “AJ” Carter, born on August 24, 1992, in Baltimore, Maryland, was by all accounts a woman whose life revolved around her three children. At 32 years old, she was a caring mother and a devoted friend, remembered for her vibrant spirit and the deep love she had for her family.

Her life was dedicated to raising Kora, a 13-year-old navigating the complexities of adolescence; Hudson, an energetic 3-year-old toddler; and Aspen, a 7-month-old infant who was entirely dependent on her mother’s care. The wide age range of her children speaks to a life filled with different stages of motherhood, from helping with middle school homework to nighttime feedings with the baby. Her sudden and violent death has robbed all three of them of their mother’s love, guidance, and protection.

Her grandmother, Brigitte Juroska, voiced the family’s deepest fear and most immediate concern. “Who’s going to take care of those poor kids now?” It’s a heartbreaking and practical question. The children have not only lost their mother to a brutal act of violence but have also lost their father, the perpetrator, to suicide. They are now orphans, left to carry the unimaginable trauma of what they experienced for the rest of their lives.

Friends have taken to social media to share memories of Amanda, posting photos of her smiling with her children. The tributes paint a picture of a woman who was the center of her children’s universe, a universe that has now been violently torn apart.

A History of Abuse and Warning Signs

As the community grieves, disturbing details have emerged suggesting that this tragedy may have been preventable. Carter’s grandmother confirmed the family’s worst fears, revealing that there had been “previous issues of abuse” involving the ex-husband.

This was corroborated by neighbors on Bonita Drive, who reported seeing a large police presence at the same home approximately two months ago, an indication of a significant domestic disturbance that required intervention. The context of Thursday’s murder-suicide is now being viewed through the lens of a known and escalating domestic violence situation.

A particularly concerning detail revealed by Ms. Juroska was that the ex-husband was living at the residence at the time of the killing, a situation she described as being “under investigation.” The specifics of this arrangement are unclear, but it raises critical questions. Was there a restraining order in place that was being violated? Had law enforcement or social services been previously involved in a way that should have separated the perpetrator from the victim?

Experts in domestic violence stress that the most dangerous time for a victim is often when they are attempting to leave or have recently left an abusive relationship. The abuser’s loss of control can trigger an escalation in violence, often with fatal consequences. Amanda Carter’s death appears to be a tragic example of this all-too-common pattern. This incident will undoubtedly be reviewed by domestic violence advocacy groups and law enforcement to determine if there were failures in the system that allowed this to happen.

The Broader Crisis: Domestic Violence in Our Community

The murder of Amanda Carter is a stark reminder that domestic violence is a pervasive and deadly issue that affects every community, including Fountain and El Paso County. It is a crime that thrives in silence and isolation, and its consequences are devastating, reaching far beyond the primary victim to impact children, families, and neighborhoods.

This tragedy highlights the critical importance of recognizing the warning signs of abuse and knowing where to turn for help. Local organizations like TESSA of Colorado Springs provide a lifeline for victims, offering emergency shelter, counseling, legal advocacy, and a 24/7 crisis line.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please know that help is available. You can contact:

• The National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or by texting START to 88788.
• TESSA of Colorado Springs at 719-633-3819.

As the investigation into the deaths of Amanda Carter and her ex-husband continues, the focus of the community is now shifting to the three children left behind. A community fundraiser is being organized to support Kora, Hudson, and Aspen as they begin to navigate a new and difficult reality. Their mother’s life was tragically cut short, but the love and support of their extended family and community will now be the foundation upon which they must rebuild their world.