The woman killed early Saturday in northeast Colorado Springs apparently shot her way into the apartment of a man she’d had a relationship with and he shot her, Colorado Springs police said Monday.

Cristen Ann Cox, 46, died from a single shot to her torso, the El Paso County coroner ruled.

Her death is the city’s 22nd homicide this year and the fourth in less than a week.

Police were called about reports of gunshots at 1:08 a.m. Saturday and found Cox shortly after arriving at apartment I of 2555 Paragon Drive, an apartment building on the south end of the Windtree Apartment Homes near Union Boulevard and Vickers Drive.

Police said Cox fired a handgun into the lock of the apartment’s front door and went into the apartment armed with the gun. The man who lived there fired one shot, killing Cox, police said.

The man’s name has not been released. Police would not discuss the nature of his relationship with Cox.

The investigation is continuing and police said the decision on whether the man will face any charges will come from the district attorney. The Colorado statute commonly called the “Make My Day Law” protects people from any criminal charge or civil suit if they use force — including deadly force — against someone invading their home.

Another woman also was in the apartment at the time of the shooting, police said.

Court records show that one person who previously had a relationship with Cox had reason earlier this year for the courts to order her to keep away from him.

Richard Lynn Cox was granted a permanent restraining order against Cristen Cox in January. It is unclear whether the two were married. Cristen Cox legally changed her name from Cris Ann Elwell in 1994.

Cristen Cox purchased a home on Chelton Road in February 2004 and added Richard L. Cox to the deed in May 2005.

The pair sold the home last November.

William Rapuzzi Photo by