Cañon City man arrested for allegedly shooting father in back of head

A Cañon City man was arrested late Friday night for allegedly shooting his father in the back of the head while he was asleep in the home that they shared on South Raynolds Avenue.

Joseph Tippet, 36, was arrested by Fremont County deputies on suspicion of murder in the first degree, a Class 1 felony, in connection with the death of his father, William Tippet.

According to an affidavit, Deputy J. McDonald was dispatched to 475 S. Raynolds at about 9:15 p.m. Friday for a report of a person with a weapon.

The reporting party, Joseph Tippet’s wife, whose name will be withheld because she is an alleged victim of domestic violence, called authorities to report that she had received a voicemail from her husband that stated that he had shot his father and that he was dead.

McDonald, along with other deputies and the assistance of the Cañon City Police Department, set up a perimeter around the property. McDonald was advised that there were two .40 and one .45 handguns in the house. He unsuccessfully tried to contact Tippet by phone.

Tippet’s wife told authorities that she left the residence that afternoon to avoid a domestic violence situation. She said her husband attempted to call her multiple times, but she did not answer.

At about 6:30 p.m., she said her husband left a voicemail stating that he had shot his father two times, according to the affidavit.

Fremont County Sheriff’s Office’s SWAT team was dispatched to the home at about 10 p.m. During the safety sweep, the body of an elderly man was discovered in a bed in the dining room area of the residence.

Upon execution of a search warrant, authorities discovered two apparent gunshot wounds in the back of William Tippet’s head.

Joseph Tippet later was contacted in Salida by the Colorado State Patrol and taken into custody without incident.  He was taken to St. Thomas More Hospital to be treated for a small laceration on his right hand sustained by reportedly punching a mirror in the home, and then was transported into the Fremont County Jail.

Authorities spoke to Tippet at about 4:30 a.m. Saturday at the jail. He said he had consumed alcohol and marijuana during the day, but he was not feeling any effects of the substances and that daily consumption of both was normal for him.

He told detectives that he had gotten into a fight with his wife that led to a physical altercation. He said he punched and slapped her and pulled her hair during the altercation. He said his drinking had made the fight worse. His wife then left the residence.

“Joesph stated that William had been in bed sleeping during this time,” the affidavit states. “Joseph (said) he grabbed his .45 cal. handgun and approached William. Joseph stated that William was asleep in his bed facing away from Joesph. Joseph (said) he stood behind Joseph and shot him one time in the back of the head.”

After the shooting, he said he went to the liquor store to get some bourbon and drove around town. He said he returned to the residence one time before leaving again.

“Joseph stated he was going to drive to a beach to watch the sunrise,” the affidavit states.

When asked why he had shot his father, he said it was because he was not a good dad and was an absentee parent. He said he did not get along with him and that his father had propositioned his wife for a sex act in exchange for co-signing on a vehicle several years ago.

“Joseph stated that he has always remembered that and held a grudge,” the affidavit states.

According to authorities, William Tippet has suffered from COPD and A-fib and had been living with Joseph Tippet and his wife for about two years.

Tippet is being housed at the Fremont County Detention Center where he is being held on a $1 million cash-only bond.

Tippet is slated to appear for filing of charges Jan. 18.

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