EXCLUSIVE - Two military families destroyed before Christmas: Father and Army Ranger sent heartwarming Christmas message to daughter, 14, just hours before military officer stepfather shot her dead by mistake

2nd Lt Daniel Meade, 29, has been identified as the stepfather who shot his daughter in Colorado Springs Monday



Kiana O'Neil, 14, was entering the home when her stepfather shot her and it's unclear as to whether he mistook her for a burglar

Police say the girl was struck in the chest and stomach



Colorado residents are allowed to own guns and fire at intruders as part of the 'Make My Day' law instated in 1985



It has yet to be decided whether or not charges will be filed against Mr Meade

Officer served in Iraq and earned a Bronze Star and a dozen other awards in the course of 10 years



The tragic death of a 14-year-old Colorado girl mistakenly shot by her Army officer stepfather has torn apart two military families.



Kiana O'Neil's biological father Gary O'Neil, who is an elite Army Ranger, wrote a touching note on a Facebook picture of herself that she posted just hours before she was killed Monday morning.



'Gorgeous,' he commented. Hours after Kiana's death, he changed his Facebook profile picture to her name written in sand.



'It is with great sadness that I say we have a new angel watching over us!! She was a wonderful young girl, our niece, and will be missed dearly!! Please take a moment to say a prayer for her family as they try to come to terms with their loss,' Kiana's aunt Sis O'Neil wrote on Facebook.



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Tragic: Gary O'Neil's daughter Kiana was living with her mother and stepfather in Colorado Springs, Colorado, when she was shot by mistake and killed

Named: 2nd Lt Daniel Meade, pictured left with his wife, Monica Meade, has been identified as the man who allegedly shot his 14-year-old stepdaughter (right)



Police say that the teen was shot in the chest and the stomach by her stepfather as she crawled into a basement window of her mother's home in Colorado Springs, Colorado.



Fort Carson has exclusively confirmed to MailOnline that the shooter is Second Lieutenant Daniel Meade, 29.



Meade hasn't been arrested and it will be up to prosecutors to decide whether charges should be filed. Colorado's 'Make My Day' law allows residents to defend themselves against intruders.

The 'Make My Day' law permits homeowners to fire at intruders only if they are certain the intruder will commit a crime other than trespassing. They are permitted to fire if the intruder plans to use physical force, no matter how slight.

Meade is a highly decorated soldier who earned the Bronze Star - one of the military's highest honors - also qualified to be a member of the Special Forces.

Tribute: Just hours before Kiana was killed, her father Gary commented on a selfie she posted to Facebook: 'Gorgeous,' he wrote

Happy family: Mr Meade, pictured here on a family outing with his wife, Monica, Kiana (far right), and her two younger siblings

The 'Green Berets' are among the most highly trained and elite soldiers in the U.S. Army. Every Special Forces soldier must complete a grueling training called the Q-Course, which can last more than a year and a half.



During the training, soldiers are taught combat tactics, including close-quarters battle, and how to operate in hostile areas, including telling friend from foe.



O'Neil, Kiana's biological father, is also an elite soldier - a member of the Army Rangers.



At the time of her death, Kiana was living with her mother Monica, stepfather, her sister and her baby stepsister in Colorado Springs - outside Fort Carson - where 2nd Lt Meade serves.



Meade is listed as an active-duty health service officer assigned to 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson.

Over the course of his decade-long military career, Meade has racked up more than a dozen various awards and commendations, including a Bronze Star, National Defense Service Medal and Global War of Terrorism Service Medal.

According to his military record, Mr Meade is also an Iraq War veteran.

Too young: Kiana O'Neil, 14, has been identified as he Colorado Springs girl who was gunned down by her stepfather early Monday morning while entering her home



Crime scene: A Colorado Springs Police vehicle is seen parked outside of a house where a 14-year-old girl was mistakenly shot by her stepfather at their home in northeast Colorado Springs

Herbert said Kiana was entering her home early Monday morning at the time that she was shot.

Police say the girl was shot just before 6am in the 4300 block of Ascendant Drive in northeastern Colorado Springs. She was rushed to the hospital and later died of her wounds.

CW 2 reports that the case was expected to be handed down to the district attorney's office after the police complete their investigation. The district attorney's office will decide what charges to file against the girl's stepfather.

According to a recording of a police dispatch, Kiana may have been trying to sneak into the house through a basement window after a night out when she was shot.

'I heard three bangs,' neighbor Jani Harvey told the station KTRK. 'They weren't all right together. It was like bang, bang, bang.'

Police say Kiana was struck in the stomach and chest, and was taken to a local hospital in critical condition.



Crime scene: A Colorado Springs Police vehicle is seen parked outside of a house where a 14-year-old girl was mistakenly shot by her stepfather at their home in northeast Colorado Springs

Young woman: Kiana, pictured left with her mother, was the oldest of three children



The 14-year-old girl was the oldest of three children. On a memorial Facebook page that has been set up in her honor, Kiana, a freshman as Vista Ridge High School, was remembered for her bright personality and infectious smile.



Describing herself on her Pintrest page, Kiana wrote she loves 'basically everything especially food and crazy hairstyles.’

'Im [sic] a total nerd and always will be,' she stated.

Outing gone awry: According to a police dispatch, Kiana may have been trying to sneak into the house via a basement window after a night out when she was mistaken for a burglar

Westword reports that the 'Make My Day' law was first enforced in 1985 after homeowner and medical marijuana grower Al Michaud of Colorado springs used his Smith & Wesson gun to successfully ward off intruders.



'Make My Day' is in reference to Clint Eastwood's famous line he says as a cop in Dirty Harry. It is part of what police refer to as the 'castle doctrine' stemming from the old English common law, 'a man's home is his castle,' says wisegeek.com.