Colorado police look for links in church killings

Reuters ^ | 12/10/2007 | Keith Coffman

[jan in Colorado]

Police in Colorado on Monday were looking into possible links between shootings at a Christian evangelical church and a missionary training center over the weekend that left four victims and a gunman dead.

A man dressed in black, wearing combat boots and holding an assault rifle and at least one handgun, opened fire in the parking lot of the vast evangelical New Life church in Colorado Springs after Sunday services, killing one person on the spot and wounding others. A second person died later, police said.

A security guard shot and killed the gunman, Colorado Springs Police Chief Richard Myers told a news conference.

Police did not identify the gunman. There were about 7,000 people in the building when the shooting erupted, a pastor said.

In an incident about 12 hours earlier and 70 miles away, a man entered a Christian missionary training center in the Denver suburb of Arvada and killed two young missionaries with a handgun shortly after midnight, police said.

The Arvada gunman, also dressed in dark clothing, fled on foot in the snow.

The attacks -- both at Christian religious buildings on a Sunday shortly before Christmas -- caused shock and dismay.

They came just four days after a 19-year-old man killed eight people and then himself with an assault rifle at a busy shopping mall in Omaha, Nebraska.

Police in the two Colorado cities were sharing information but there was no indication of the motive in either case.

"We have not been able to identify a motive as of yet," Colorado Springs police spokesman Skip Arms told CNN.

While Myers said there was no information that the attacks were related, Arvada Police Chief Don Wick said there could be a connection.

[jan in Colorado]

"The security guard who took action in the church probably saved this tragedy from becoming a lot worse than it already is," Arms said.

[From One - Many]

May this all be linked, otherwise there is another shooter out there. Prayers for the families, and victims.

[cripplecreek]

I see that now they’re saying he was home schooled in a very religious family.

[wideawake]

Again, the killer's identity when determined should be kept quiet.

This person was obviously motivated by all the endless publicity given to the NE dirtbag and all the exhaustive MSM coverage about the dirtbag's life, and turmoil, and feelings, etc.

The NE murderer's stated purpose was to become famous - and the MSM did his bidding.

The filth who do this should remain nameless and faceless - nonentities in life, they should be even more so in death.

[From One - Many]

I had not read that... any name release yet?

[jan in Colorado]

Armed citizens save lives ping!

[From One - Many]

while I agree, there are people who would like to conduct their own investigation. So few investigations are completely honest, with the public, these days.

[cripplecreek]

No names yet but the media seems to be going on the word of a neighbor.

[From One - Many]

Thank You....I’ll keep my ears open, and eyes.

[jan in Colorado]

From the response of the police spokesman, it sounds to me like the two are related, but for some reason they are keeping the details private.
During an ongoing investigation, it is ALWAYS best to release as little information as possible.

[VirginiaConstitutionalist]

(Doing my best smug liberal voice.) Well. This is clear proof why we simply can’t allow people to carry firearms in public. Harrrumph!

[jan in Colorado]

I agree!

[From One - Many]

May your thought be the correct one.

[jan in Colorado]

LOL!

.

[VirginiaConstitutionalist]

New rule. News outlets are allowed to broadcast the name and photos of gunmen who kill people because they “want to be famous.”

But below the photo, and after the mention of his name, they have to include the words “loves farm animals.”

[cripplecreek]

LOL “Took it in butt”

[jan in Colorado]

ROTFLOL

[From One - Many]

I agree, but spell it backwards, so those who wish to check the media reports, can find and apply the grease, instead of being told to bend over, by the media.

[george76]

People don’t stop killers. People with guns do

[MarkDel]

Amen...