On a Sunday afternoon in Parker, Colorado, a child custody exchange turned into a scene of violence that ended the life of 36-year-old Michael David Bolan. The fatal encounter took place on February 11, 2024, at a Valero gas station in an unincorporated area of Elbert County. Bolan was meeting his former girlfriend to pick up their four-year-old daughter when an argument erupted between him and the woman's fiancé, Jeffrey Church.
The verbal dispute quickly escalated into a physical
fight between the two men. According to witnesses, the altercation intensified, and at one point, Church, who was 26 years old, allegedly pulled out a handgun. A 911 caller reported that one man had shot the other. Witnesses later told investigators that Bolan was either on the ground or falling when he was shot in the chest.
When Elbert County Sheriff's Office deputies arrived at the scene, they found Michael Bolan in a small alleyway next to the gas station with a gunshot wound. A deputy began performing life-saving measures until Elizabeth Fire Rescue personnel arrived and took over. Bolan was transported to Advent Health Parker, where he was pronounced dead.
Jeffrey Church, of Colorado Springs, remained at the scene and was arrested by authorities. He was taken into custody and charged with first-degree murder. Investigators reported that Church was cooperative following his arrest. He was scheduled for a court appearance later that month.
