THORNTON, Colo. — A man accused of stabbing a teacher outside a Thornton school Thursday was “agitated and paranoid” and told family he felt safer in prison before the seemingly unprovoked attack, according to an arrest affidavit in the case.
Arresting documents obtained by Denver7 Friday show 31-year-old Damien Brooks had just been released from prison after spending two months incarcerated but was still “agitated and paranoid,” according to his mother, who told police Brooks told her, “they’re going to kill me.”
She told police her son was home for only a few hours last week after being released before he left without telling anyone where he was going. She said a different family member later contacted her, telling her Brooks had broken the windows at Community Reach, a behavioral health services center.
Brooks was placed on a mental health hold following the alleged crime but told responding officers that “he wanted to go to prison and that he stabbed himself earlier,” adding he was “experiencing homicidal thoughts.”
“Damien uttered that he could not survive sleeping on the street and that prison was the only thing that could help him,” the arrest affidavit states.
His mother told police the facility contacted her to have her pick up her son, but “she refused because he needed more help, and she did not feel it was safe for him to come home,” according to the affidavit.
The affidavit states Brooks was able to leave the facility, located in Colorado Springs, and somehow traveled to Thornton, arriving at his mother’s house at around 2 p.m. Thursday.
“As soon as he arrived, he began saying the same things about people killing him and he mentioned he would ‘rather go to prison’ because he felt safer there, and ‘I may as well kill someone to go back to prison,’” the affidavit reads.
Police say he then asked one of his cousins at home for knives, but she tried hiding all of them except one she was using to cook a meal.
The affidavit notes that while she was cooking a meal, Brooks took her knife, and she ran into a bedroom, fearing for her life. Brook’s cousin said he made “comments about feeling safer in prison and that he was going to stab someone.”
A few moments later, Brook’s cousin told police he saw him approach a teacher/crossing guard holding a stop sign in the road outside Meadow Community School and saw him “make a ‘stabbing’ motion at the teacher,” according to the affidavit.
Brook’s mother told police she was in the same room as her niece, watching the scene unfold before she ran outside and called 911. Another of Brook’s cousins, who was also at the home, told police he yelled at him after learning what had happened, the affidavit states.
Other witnesses to the stabbing said they saw Brooks approach the victim before allegedly stabbing him two or three times while reportedly saying, “I’m going to jail, I may as well stab someone,” or “I’m going to jail, I may as well murder someone.”
Moments later, the witnesses told police Brooks got down on his knees and dropped the knife.
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Arresting documents show Thornton police later interviewed the victim in the stabbing, who told them he was standing in the street directing traffic when someone came up behind him and stabbed him. He told police he recognized the suspect because he lived across the street, but he “has never spoken to him and there would be no reason for Damien to target him.”
Police said the victim sustained two 1-inch puncture wounds to his chest on the right side. One was several inches to the right towards his armpit, and the other was slightly higher and more centered on his pectoral muscle, the affidavit states. A physician’s statement noted the knife wounds fit the definition of “serious bodily injuries.”
During the booking process, Brooks reportedly asked an officer to clarify the charges he was facing in connection with the stabbing, to which an officer replied that he was being charged with attempted first-degree murder.
Brooks reportedly told the officer “something to the effect of, ‘I should have just killed him,’” and later said he felt “remorseful,” according to the affidavit.
Mapleton Public Schools issued a letter to the school community and district staff following the incident, saying Friday will be a regular day for Meadow students and additional crisis and mental health support will be available. The district was also bringing in therapy dogs during recess "to offer comfort and support for any students who would like to participate."
- Read the district's full letter below
"We want to share an update about a deeply unsettling incident that occurred this afternoon near the 9100 block of Monroe Street outside of Meadow Community School.
Shortly after dismissal, an adult male who is not associated with Meadow Community School or Mapleton Public Schools approached and injured a Meadow staff member.
The Thornton Police Department responded immediately and remained on scene to ensure everyone’s safety. The staff member was transported to the hospital and is doing well. Police have also confirmed there is no ongoing threat to the school or the community, and we want to reassure our families that no students were involved.
We know this news is upsetting. We are deeply grateful for the swift response of our law enforcement partners and for the care, compassion, and strength shown by our community.
Tomorrow will be a regular school day for Meadow students, and additional crisis and mental health support will be available at the school. Victim advocates will also bring therapy dogs to the playground during recess to offer comfort and support for any students who would like to participate."
Some students were hesitant to return to school Friday, including Maritza Bautista's 9-year-old daughter.
"My 9-year-old saw how the art teacher got stabbed. She saw blood," Bautista told Denver7. "She called me, panicking. She had nightmares last night."
Bautista and other parents are now questioning the district. A group of them had a meeting with staff and Thornton PD on Friday afternoon.
One question Bautista had was why school districts don't investigate people who live around the school.
"The most important thing is that we found out the person lived across the street, walked by the playground area," Bautista said.
She felt that she was learning more about the stabbing incident from social media than from the school.
In a statement to Denver7 Friday, the district said in part, "We are relieved to share that we have been in touch with our teacher, and he is recovering and doing well.”
Denver7's Allie Jennerjahn contributed to this report.
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