Longmont, Colorado – A man was fatally attacked with a tree branch at a bus stop, with the suspect claiming he heard the victim was a child molester, according to an affidavit for his arrest. The victim, identified as Brendan Murphy, 44, succumbed to his injuries, as confirmed by the Boulder County coroner.
Authorities received a 911 call reporting a fight between two men near a bus stop on Miller Drive. The incident occurred close to the Front Range Community College. The caller later followed the suspect, identified as Kamaloni Manu, who was apprehended about 90 minutes after the assault.
Witnesses reported seeing Manu attacking the victim with a bat or stick before walking towards Pike Street. Surveillance footage from the school captured the assault, showing Manu approaching the victim seated near a tree and striking him multiple times without provocation.
Upon being questioned by investigators, Manu initially claimed to have left the area after witnessing two other men fighting. Despite witness accounts and video evidence contradicting his statement, Manu insisted he had only struck a tree, not the victim. However, when confronted with the footage frame by frame, he admitted to the assault, attributing his actions to hearing about the victim’s alleged misconduct as a child molester.
Manu expressed his intolerance for such behavior and proclaimed he was “at peace” with his actions. The motive behind the attack sheds light on a vigilante-style approach taken by the suspect based on allegations he had heard. This tragic incident underscores the dangers of acting on unverified information and the potential consequences of taking the law into one’s own hands.
Subsequent proceedings will likely delve deeper into Manu’s mental state and the chain of events leading to the fatal assault. The Longmont community is left grappling with the repercussions of this senseless act, prompting conversations on vigilante justice and the importance of due process in addressing criminal allegations. The victim’s untimely death serves as a stark reminder of the potential ramifications of unchecked suspicions and impulsive actions.