Pieces to the Puzzle

MONTROSE  — “His intentions were not to hurt the cops, I just think they interrupted what he was going to do,” Kevin Gurney said.

But what was Dennis Gurney doing, and why?

Kevin, 27, is the youngest son of Dennis. On July 25, Dennis barricaded himself inside his woodshop after police arrived on a domestic dispute call. The incident ultimately ended with three Montrose Police Officers shot before Dennis turned a gun on himself. Sgt. David Kinterknecht, a 10-year MPD veteran and Montrose native, died.

Kevin, along with daughter Jessica, a 4-year-old grandchild, and wife Pam, who had made the 911 call, were right there, frantically witnessing the conclusion of Dennis’ life.

“Things just got real crazy,” Pam said about that day.

But it had not been just that day. The Gurney household had experienced rough times. Dennis’ life was forever altered at 23 when he was badly burned from an oil rig accident. The accident happened on Feb. 27, 1980 near Freer, Texas. As a driller, Gurney was disconnecting a pipe loaded with diesel-mixed mud and become covered in the material. A heater nearby warming workers ignited the diesel, burning 75 percent of Dennis’ body. However, his fast thinking in securing the pipe saved others from the same fate.

More trouble followed, from excessive drinking and rage to a painful affair.

“He wasn’t the man he turned into the last couple of weeks,” Pam said.

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