Police Say Colorado Shootings May Be Linked
The Associated Press is reporting that authorities have searched a home in suburban Englewood early Monday, seeking any link between two deadly shooting sprees at Christian religious centers that left both communities baffled and stunned. Five people, including a gunman, died in the attacks Sunday at New Life Church in Colorado Springs and at the Youth With a Mission missionary center in the Denver suburb of Arvada. Five others were wounded.
Police in Arvada said they believed the shootings - which occurred 12 hours and about 65 miles apart - were probably linked, though they had nothing conclusive to back up the theory.
"Given the circumstances, I think it is a good possibility that the two are linked," Arvada Deputy Police Chief Gary Creagor told The Associated Press early Monday. "But we have to prove that they are."
A lone gunman entered a Youth With a Mission training center in the Denver, Colorado suburb of Arvada early Sunday morning, opening fire and hitting four members of the staff. All were taken to local hospitals and two later died of their injuries.
The two wounded remain in serious condition. The gunman has not yet been apprehended, and police are continuing their search for him.
The deceased have been identified as Tiffany Johnson, 26, from Minnesota, and Philip Crouse, 24, from Alaska. Both served as staff members at the Youth With a Mission Arvada campus. The third victim, Dan Griebenow, 24, has a bullet in his neck and is listed in critical but stable condition. The fourth victim Charlie Blanch, 22, suffered gunshot wounds to his legs.
Peter Warren, the Director of Youth with a Mission Denver says they had just finished a Christmas banquet when the suspect arrived and asked the 22-year-old woman from Minnesota if he could be housed for the evening. When she told him they could not house him the suspect opened fired with an automatic handgun, hitting four people.
Police say they do not know whether the shooting was random or if there was a motive.
"The young man – I don't know who he is; I don't think [the victims] knew him – but he must be going through a lot personally in his own life to do something like this," Warren said. "Our belief is that only God is the judge and our place is to forgive, and that's a difficult thing to do. But really, I think it's the right thing to do," said Warren.
There are about 80 people living on the Arvada campus and they have been transported to the group's mountain campus near Golden, Colorado where they will stay while the murder investigation is processed at their residence. Warren says they are trying to deal with this situation as best as they can.
"There's no blueprint for this," said Warren. "You know, we're just going to be honest, we're going to pray with one another, and cry with one another. These kids were like our kids, you know. It's just such a tragedy, but who knows what's going on in this young man's life."
Twelve hours later and about 80 miles south, a second shooting took place in Colorado Springs at New Life Church, founded by former Pastor Ted Haggard.
It happened just as Sunday services came to an end. Hundreds of people in the congregation were greeting one another or picking up their kids from children's church when the house of worship also became the scene of a violent crime.
One church-goer was killed before a security guard shot the lone gunman. Another victim, who was badly wounded, died later Sunday at Penrose Community Hospital in Colorado Springs, said hospital spokeswoman Amy Sufak. Their identities were not released.
"The active shooter had been shot by a security staff member of the church -- a courageous security staff member who probably saved many lives," Colorado Springs Police Chief Richard Myers said.
The church had beefed up its security after hearing about the shootings earlier at Youth With a Mission.
"I am proud the way our team responded today," said New Life's Senior Pastor Brady Boyd. "We had a plan in place, as I told you before, and it worked well."
"Violent crimes of any sort are tragic enough, but when innocent people are killed in a religious facility or a place of worship, we must voice a collective sense of outrage and demonstrate a renewed commitment to keeping our communities safe," said Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter.
YWAM International Chairman Lynn Green released this statement: "We feel a deep sense of loss today and we grieve with the families and those who were very close friends of the victims. Our surviving students and staff are being well cared for and we have total confidence in those who are responsible for the training program in Arvada to care for those who have been subjected to this assault.
"Those who lost their lives had dedicated themselves to serve and we feel the sorrow of their absence. Yet we take comfort from the assurance of everlasting life for those who follow Christ in loving service to others.
"It is a great tragedy that our culture seems to produce so many deeply troubled people who express their frustration in violence. We forgive the assailant and we rededicate ourselves to serving young people in the hope that we might bring healing to other needy youth."
Your thoughts: Why do you think there has been an increase in public shootings in America?
CBN News: Five Die in Church, Mission Attacks
Youth With a Mission Press Release