Loveland police detail prior protection orders against Javier Acevedo Jr. before fatal shooting

Sady Swanson, Fort Collins Coloradoan
·7 min read
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Update, Aug. 9: The Weld County Coroner's Office has confirmed Javier Acevedo Jr., 49, was the suspect in the fatal shooting in east Loveland and later fatally shot himself in Erie. His death was ruled a suicide.

Original: The man Loveland police say shot and killed a woman and teenage girl before fatally shooting himself last week talked to someone about killing his wife two days before, according to the Loveland Police Department.

The woman killed sought protection orders against the suspect multiple times in the last year, police said in a news release distributed this week.

Police responded to the shooting near Aries Drive and Pavo Court in east Loveland the afternoon of July 28. Officers found 41-year-old Lindsay E. Daum dead inside the house while rescuing four children ages 2 to 14. Daum's 16-year-old daughter, Meadow Sinner, also died at the house.

Daum's and Sinner's deaths were ruled homicides by multiple gunshot wounds, according to the Larimer County Coroner's Office.

Police tracked the suspect, whom they identified as Javier Acevedo Jr., to Erie, where he fatally shot himself, according to police. The Weld County Coroner's Office has not responded to the Coloradoan's request to confirm the man's identity and cause of death.

Loveland police say the results of their preliminary investigation showed Acevedo reportedly purchased a firearm in March 2021 and was ordered but failed to relinquish it due to a protection order issued against him in Denver County in June. The protected person in this protection order was not involved in this shooting, police say.

Daum filed a civil protection order against Acevedo in September 2021, naming herself and three of the juveniles in the house at the time of the shooting as protected parties. A temporary protection order was granted, but four weeks later a judge denied a permanent protection order, according to police.

Another protection order was issued against Acevedo in November 2021 as part of a criminal case, this time listing two juveniles as the protected parties. There was no requirement that Acevedo relinquish any firearms, according to Loveland police.

In this case, Acevedo was charged with sexual assault of a child, second-degree assault, misdemeanor child abuse and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, according to court records.

Denver County also issued a protection order against Acevedo in November 2021 as part of a criminal case, requiring him to relinquish any firearms and wear a GPS ankle monitor as a condition of bond. This case did not involve Daum, according to police. Acevedo was wearing a Denver County GPS ankle monitor when he was found in Erie.

In January, Daum called Loveland police to report that Acevedo violated the protection order against her children, but investigators found no criminal violations, according to the news release. Two days later, a victim services coordinator with the department contacted Daum with information about how to file a civil protection order.

In June, Daum filed a civil protection order against Acevedo and a temporary protection order was granted. Less than two weeks later, a judge denied a permanent protection order.

Loveland police spoke with Acevedo on July 14 about reports of illegal activity at the Pavo Court home. Police say they spoke with an individual who said they were a neighbor, but they suspect it was Acevedo pretending to be a neighbor, according to the news release. The case was still under investigation when Acevedo died.

On July 26 — two days before the shooting — Loveland police received a call from a concerned citizen who said Acevedo made a statement to them about killing his wife. Police investigated but did not find any probable cause to arrest Acevedo.

Police say the case is still under investigation.

'Devastated about what happened'

This was a "heinous, remarkably tragic" incident that has traumatized the children involved, the victims' family and the community as a whole, Crossroads Safehouse Executive Director Pam Jones said.

"We are so, so sorry for this family and what they've gone through," Jones said. "... We are devastated about what happened."

The 16-year-old victim, Meadow, was described as "one of the most beautiful and vibrant souls we have ever met," and "brave, vulnerable, and deeply in love with her family and her community," in a GoFundMe set up to support the four children who were rescued from the house. She was a leader in the Colorado Youth Congress and was working on improving mental health support in schools, according to the fundraiser.

"She had the power to transform the energy of a room in a matter of seconds, and that’s one of the many reasons we loved her so deeply," the fundraising page says. "Her death will leave an irreparable hole in the hearts of all that knew and loved her."

Meadow's mother, Daum, is described as a "loving mother" and someone who "loved being a mom more than anything else in the world."

"Our hearts go out to these family members," Jones said. "We hope with the outpouring of support ... those kids are given what they need to somehow move beyond this someday."

Jones said those working in domestic violence victim advocacy and support, led largely by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, have been advocating for strengthening gun laws and the power of protection orders to better protect victims.

"Protection orders serve a purpose, but it's not like you're putting someone in witness protection," Jones said.

Expanding the definition of intimate partner to include people who are in dating relationships and adding stalking to the list of behaviors considered domestic violence are a few ways advocacy groups hope to strengthen the use of protection orders in domestic violence cases, Jones said.

Advocates are also hoping to strengthen background checks for firearm purchases, requiring these checks to look at a larger picture of a person's previous history with violence or abuse, Jones said.

About 1 in 4 women and at least 1 in 8 men will be victims of domestic violence at some point in their lives, Jones said.

"Domestic violence and intimate partner abuse is more common than we'd actually like to admit or acknowledge," Jones said. "... It's rather pervasive."

It can be challenging to leave an abusive or dangerous relationship for many reasons, Jones said. Financial concerns around income or housing may stop someone from leaving, or people could be worried about the safety of their children or what to do with their pets.

About 75% of domestic violence-related murders occur when someone separates from their abuser, Jones said.

Children who experience or witness domestic violence are more likely to attempt suicide, use drugs or alcohol, run away from home or be part of other dangerous behavior, Jones said.

"It has a lasting impact on their mental and emotional health," Jones said.

When tragic cases involving domestic violence happen in the community, Jones said she mourns with the community and hopes it opens up a dialogue about domestic violence, taking away the stigma of reporting abuse, asking for help and talking about prevention.

"We have to mourn the losses this family faced but also prevail with the survivors," Jones said.

Resources for those dealing with domestic violence

If you believe you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence or intimate partner abuse, please contact Crossroads Safehouse or another area domestic violence shelter. Trained Crossroads Safehouse staff can be reached 24/7 at 970-482-3502 or 888-541-7233. You can visit their website at crossroadssafehouse.org.

You can also call Alternatives to Violence at 970-669-5150.

Crossroads Safehouse offers multiple programs and services to support those experiencing or who have experienced domestic violence, including:

  • Road to Home Program: One of the most significant deterrents to leaving an abusive partner is the threat of homelessness, according to Jones. Road to Home is a transitional and rapid rehousing program that assists victims by providing housing resources.

  • Danielle’s Safehouse SafeKeep Program: Another significant deterrent to leaving an abusive partner is the fear of leaving pets behind. In collaboration with the Larimer Humane Society, Crossroads helps provide temporary shelter for Crossroads’ clients’ pets, Jones said. In 2021, Crossroads Safehouse and the Larimer Humane Society renamed an existing collaborative partnership to Danielle’s Safehouse SafeKeep Program in Danielle Hopton’s memory. Long-term care options for pets are also available through Colorado State University’s Inclusive Health Collaborative.

Other available resources for people in crisis include:

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Javier Acevedo Jr. faced restraining orders, assault charges before Loveland murders