Florence man, 28, arrested in alleged plot to kill three
Tracy Harmon Pueblo West, Fremont, Custer counties @tracywumps
CANON CITY - Charges were filed Wednesday against a 28-year-old Florence man who allegedly was making plans to murder three men, including a Canon City police officer.
Tad Christopher McKinney, who also is known as Tad Smith, was charged with three counts of attempted murder after deliberation, conspiracy to commit robbery and possession of a weapon - a .38-caliber handgun - by a previous offender.
According to the charging document filed in Fremont District Court Wednesday, McKinney has a Wyoming conviction for aggravated assault with a weapon and escape, as well as an attempted fraud conviction in Michigan.
Police also are trying to verify information McKinney claims he has on serious crimes in those states.
According to an arrest warrant affidavit authored by Canon City Police Detective David Elliott, McKinney allegedly developed a relationship with a Canon City man who was trying to sell a vehicle.
McKinney allegedly told the man that he intended to kill a man who had developed a relationship with his estranged wife. McKinney reportedly also told the man he had plans to kill a Canon City police officer and another man who dated his estranged wife before McKinney married her.
In addition, the informant told police that McKinney showed him his gun and talked about giving it to the man to remove the serial numbers. McKinney also talked to the informant about robbing a Buena Vista bank and using a fire at a neighboring building as a distraction while he robbed the bank.
Police recorded a conversation between the two men Nov. 21 during which McKinney said he was "very serious" about the robbery and that he still wanted to kill the three men but didn't want to do it all at once because it would be too suspicious.
McKinney also talked about buying a van and using it to move one of the men's bodies after he killed him, according to the arrest warrant affidavit.
Shortly after Canon police recorded the conversation, McKinney was arrested by Florence police for allegedly violating a protection order obtained by his estranged wife.
McKinney is slated to return to court Wednesday for a bond reduction hearing. He is being held on a $100,000 bond.
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