Steamboat Springs, CO – Based on a preliminary investigation by the Routt County Sheriff’s Office, a local mother shot and killed her 9-year-old son before attempting to kill herself early Wednesday morning in hopes of getting back at her soon to be ex, the child’s father.

Authorities believe 45-year-old Lisa Marie Lesyshen shot her son, Asher Lesyshen-Kirlan, and then turned the gun on herself. However, Lisa survived her suicide attempt. Michael Kirlan, the boy’s father, alerted officers to the home near the south shore of Stagecoach Reservoir around 3 am, shortly after waking to sounds of gunfire.

Lisa was found unconscious with a single gunshot wound to the head and rushed by ambulance to the Yampa Valley Medical Center for treatment, according to the Denver Post.

The third-grader, from Soda Creek Elementary School, sustained five gunshot wounds at close range, presumably while he slept and was pronounced dead at the scene.

On Friday, the district attorney’s office filed charges against Lisa that included first-degree murder, child abuse leading to death, domestic violence, and additional violence-related charges that would extend her sentence if she is found guilty, reports Steamboat Today.

The investigation revealed Lisa bought a Smith & Wesson .22-caliber revolver from a Steamboat pawn shop Monday. Allegedly her motive behind the premeditated murder-suicide was to harm Michael as the couple had been sleeping in separate rooms and considering a split.

Michael told officers that he awoke to gunfire and ran upstairs. There he saw Lisa coming out of Asher’s room. Michael realized the child had been shot and carried him to the home’s entrance. When Michael inquired as to why she would do such a thing, Lisa replied, “To hurt you.” Lisa attempted suicide thereafter, firing off two shots according to Michael’s account.

A letter left on the child’s nightstand, addressed to Michael from Lisa, stated, “Remember you are responsible for what has happened here and you are the person that caused it.”

If found guilty of first-degree murder, Lisa could face life in prison without parole or be subject to the death penalty.

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