In the small, dispersed community of Arboles, Colorado, a day of childhood exploration ended in a devastating tragedy that claimed the life of nine-year-old Branden Patten. On the afternoon of March 2, 2018, Branden, his 7-year-old brother Dakota, and their 10-year-old brother Christopher were told to go play outside by an older sibling who was watching them.
Instead of remaining on their family's property, the three brothers made their way to a nearby summer home that had been
unoccupied since June 2016. After forcing their way inside, they discovered a locked cabinet containing two guns, one of which was loaded. In a turn of events that would forever alter the lives of the Patten family, Dakota, the youngest of the three, pulled the trigger of the loaded shotgun, striking his older brother Branden in the neck.
The two surviving brothers immediately ran back to their home to alert their older sibling, who then called 911. When authorities from the Archuleta County Sheriff's Office arrived at the scene near Navajo Lake State Park, they found Branden Patten deceased. An autopsy later confirmed that the cause of death was a shotgun wound to the neck.
The ensuing investigation was handled with sensitivity by the Archuleta County Sheriff's Office. Ultimately, no arrests were made in connection with the shooting. This decision was based on Colorado law, which states that a juvenile younger than 10 years old cannot be held culpable for a crime. In a poignant effort to prevent similar tragedies, the Patten family consented to the release of their children's names, hoping that their story could serve as a powerful lesson for other families about the importance of firearm safety. The investigation did not officially rule the shooting as an accident, leaving the final determination to law enforcement.
