Rex Fowler, founder of Fowler Software Design. Courtesy fowlersoftware.com
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A deadly shooting at an Adams County business Wednesday takes a bizarre turn.
An Adams County family - already struggling with the violent death of their brother, Thomas Ciancio - says initial reports Ciancio was the gunman are wrong.
The coroner and investigators confirm Ciancio was not the one who pulled the trigger.
A 911 caller mistakenly identified him as the suspect. And now his family is trying to clear his name.
The shooting happened Wednesday, at Fowler Software Design, at 84th and Elati.
The Adams County sheriff's office, at the time, said Ciancio shot and injured the company's owner, Rex Fowler, then turned the gun on himself.
But the very next day, Ciancio was named a murder victim. An autopsy said he had multiple gunshot wounds to his head that were not self-inflicted.
"I was devastated to hear Thomas was involved at all. It never occurred to me that he was a suspect. That was incorrect and I knew it was wrong the minute I heard that," says Tom's brother, John.
And now his family wants to make sure bad information doesn't ruin Tom's good name.
"Tom is an amazing family man. Family is very important to him. He has 4 wonderful children," says his sister, Laura Ciancio.
They say he was a partner in the software design company - and was leaving the job, in part, because of a long commute from Castle Rock. He had gone there to pick up his final payout.
"His intention was to end the year on positive note and start a new year with a new opportunity," says his sister Charlotte Ciancio.
From the business, he was supposed to head home to celebrate his 7-year-old son's birthday.
"So the plan was to go to Red Robin and have dinner and celebrate," she says.
But those plans for a happy birthday have turned to plans for a funeral.
And a family is left questioning why this happened to a man they say was generous, smart and never spoke ill of anyone.
"This is a huge loss. A very, very huge loss," says John.
A loss made worse by a very mistaken portrayal as a disgruntled gunman.
"We're angry about that. We're trying to work through that anger. We appreciate the opportunity to set the story straight."
In lieu of flowers, the Ciancio family has set up an account for his four children - ages seven to 15.
ItÂ’s called Tom Ciancio's children fund at Mapleton public school, Federal Credit Union, 591 e. 80th ave., Denver, Co. 80229.
An Adams County family - already struggling with the violent death of their brother, Thomas Ciancio - says initial reports Ciancio was the gunman are wrong.
The coroner and investigators confirm Ciancio was not the one who pulled the trigger.
A 911 caller mistakenly identified him as the suspect. And now his family is trying to clear his name.
The shooting happened Wednesday, at Fowler Software Design, at 84th and Elati.
The Adams County sheriff's office, at the time, said Ciancio shot and injured the company's owner, Rex Fowler, then turned the gun on himself.
But the very next day, Ciancio was named a murder victim. An autopsy said he had multiple gunshot wounds to his head that were not self-inflicted.
"I was devastated to hear Thomas was involved at all. It never occurred to me that he was a suspect. That was incorrect and I knew it was wrong the minute I heard that," says Tom's brother, John.
And now his family wants to make sure bad information doesn't ruin Tom's good name.
"Tom is an amazing family man. Family is very important to him. He has 4 wonderful children," says his sister, Laura Ciancio.
They say he was a partner in the software design company - and was leaving the job, in part, because of a long commute from Castle Rock. He had gone there to pick up his final payout.
"His intention was to end the year on positive note and start a new year with a new opportunity," says his sister Charlotte Ciancio.
From the business, he was supposed to head home to celebrate his 7-year-old son's birthday.
"So the plan was to go to Red Robin and have dinner and celebrate," she says.
But those plans for a happy birthday have turned to plans for a funeral.
And a family is left questioning why this happened to a man they say was generous, smart and never spoke ill of anyone.
"This is a huge loss. A very, very huge loss," says John.
A loss made worse by a very mistaken portrayal as a disgruntled gunman.
"We're angry about that. We're trying to work through that anger. We appreciate the opportunity to set the story straight."
In lieu of flowers, the Ciancio family has set up an account for his four children - ages seven to 15.
ItÂ’s called Tom Ciancio's children fund at Mapleton public school, Federal Credit Union, 591 e. 80th ave., Denver, Co. 80229.
