Virginian - Pilot: COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - A gunman killed two staff members at a missionary training center near Denver early Sunday after being told he couldn't spend the night. About 12 hours later, a gunman fatally shot a person at a megachurch in Colorado Springs before a guard killed him, police said.
The gunman at the New Life Church was shot and killed by a church security guard after entering the church's main foyer with a high- powered rifle shortly before 1 p.m. and opening fire, Colorado Springs police Chief Richard Myers said.
The police chief in Arvada, a suburb about 15 miles west of Denver where the mission workers were shot, said the shootings might be related to those at the Colorado Springs church but declined to elaborate. Arvada authorities said no one had been captured in the shootings there.
A church member died of wounds inflicted by the gunman, Senior Pastor Brady Boyd said. At least four others were shot and wounded at the church, where hundreds of people were milling about and parents were picking up their children from the nursery.
Arvada authorities said they were sharing information with Colorado Springs investigators. The mission training program has a small office at the church's World Prayer Center on the New Life campus.
The church's 11 a.m. service had recently ended, and hundreds of people were milling about when the gunman opened fire. Nearby were parents picking up their children from the nursery.
Police arrived to find that the gunman had been killed by a member of the church's armed security staff, Myers said.
There was a courageous staff member who probably saved many lives here today," Myers said.
Hundreds of New Life members remained locked in church buildings for up to four hours as police conducted what they said was a precautionary search for more gunmen, police Lt. Fletcher Howard said.
Gov. Bill Ritter ordered state authorities to help investigate. The FBI and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were assisting, and officers combed the church campus looking for suspicious devices.
Late Sunday, police were using a robot to determine whether the gunman had a bomb strapped to his body.
There is the potential that there is a device on the body," said Sgt. Mark Stevens of the Colorado Springs Police Department.
While the assailant's identity has not yet been confirmed, police said they are already seeking search warrants for his vehicle and home for evidence that might explain the attack.
The others injured by the church gunman were taken to Penrose Community Hospital in Colorado Springs, said hospital spokeswoman Amy Sufak.
New Life was founded by the Rev. Ted Haggard, who was fired last year after a former male prostitute alleged he had a three-year cash- for-sex relationship with him. Haggard, then the president of the National Association of Evangelicals, admitted committing undisclosed "sexual immorality."
The New Life church is one of Colorado's largest, with about 10,000 members.
About 7,000 people were on the campus at the time of the shooting, Boyd said. Security at the church had been beefed up after the early morning shootings in Arvada, he said.
The first shooting happened at about 12:30 a.m. at the Youth With a Mission center in Arvada , police spokeswoman Susan Medina said.
A man and a woman were killed and two men were wounded, Medina said. All four were staff members of the center, said Paul Filidis, a Colorado Springs-based spokesman with Youth With a Mission.
Arvada Police Chief Don Wick said the suspect spent several minutes speaking with people inside the dorm. Peter Warren, director of Youth With a Mission, said the man asked whether he could spend the night. Several youths called on Tiffany Johnson, the center's director of hospitality.
Warren said Johnson was called and that the shooter then opened fire. Johnson, 26, was killed.
Warren said he didn't know whether any of the students or staff knew the gunman.
Witnesses told police that the gunman was a white male who appeared to be about 20 years old, wearing a dark jacket and skull cap, who left on foot. He may have glasses or a beard.
Police with dogs searched the area through the night, and residents of nearby homes were notified by reverse 911 to be on the lookout. Medina said residents were asked to look out their windows for any tracks left in the snow during the night. About 4 inches of snow had fallen in the past day.
In addition to Johnson, killed in Arvada was Philip Crouse, 24 .
The missionary center identified the wounded as Dan Griebenow, 24, and Charlie Blanch , 22 . One of the men was in critical condition, and the other was stable, police said.
About 45 people were evacuated from the Youth with a Mission dormitory and moved to an undisclosed location.
The missionary center is on the grounds of the Faith Bible Chapel. Cheril Morrison, wife of chapel pastor George Morrison, said Crouse had just hung up Christmas lights at her home and that Johnson was "an amazingly beautiful person."
Darv Smith, director of a Youth With a Mission center in Boulder, said people ranging in age from their late teens to their 70s undergo a 12-week course that prepares them to be missionaries. He said the center trains about 300 people a year.
This story was compiled from reports by The Associated Press, The Denver Post and The (Colorado Springs) Gazette.
first missionary center shooting
A bout 12:30 a.m. a gunman killed two people at the Youth With a Mission center in Arvada, Colo., after being told he couldn't spend the night. Peter Warren, right, the center's director, said he didn't know whether any of the students or staff knew the gunman. second New Life Church shooting
About 12 hours later in Colorado Springs, about 65 miles away, at least five people were shot, one fatally, at the New Life Church, a 10,000-member church that is one of the largest in Colorado. At right, women mourn outside the church. police investigate
Above, law enforcement officials swarm New Life Church on Sunday in Colorado Springs, Colo. At least five people were shot, one fatally, at the church Sunday. A church security guard then fatally shot the gunman.
Late Sunday, police were using a robot to determine whether the gunman had a bomb strapped to his body.
There is the potential that there is a device on the body," said Sgt. Mark Stevens of the Colorado Springs Police Department.
(c) 2007 Virginian - Pilot. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.
The gunman at the New Life Church was shot and killed by a church security guard after entering the church's main foyer with a high- powered rifle shortly before 1 p.m. and opening fire, Colorado Springs police Chief Richard Myers said.
The police chief in Arvada, a suburb about 15 miles west of Denver where the mission workers were shot, said the shootings might be related to those at the Colorado Springs church but declined to elaborate. Arvada authorities said no one had been captured in the shootings there.
A church member died of wounds inflicted by the gunman, Senior Pastor Brady Boyd said. At least four others were shot and wounded at the church, where hundreds of people were milling about and parents were picking up their children from the nursery.
Arvada authorities said they were sharing information with Colorado Springs investigators. The mission training program has a small office at the church's World Prayer Center on the New Life campus.
The church's 11 a.m. service had recently ended, and hundreds of people were milling about when the gunman opened fire. Nearby were parents picking up their children from the nursery.
Police arrived to find that the gunman had been killed by a member of the church's armed security staff, Myers said.
There was a courageous staff member who probably saved many lives here today," Myers said.
Hundreds of New Life members remained locked in church buildings for up to four hours as police conducted what they said was a precautionary search for more gunmen, police Lt. Fletcher Howard said.
Gov. Bill Ritter ordered state authorities to help investigate. The FBI and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were assisting, and officers combed the church campus looking for suspicious devices.
Late Sunday, police were using a robot to determine whether the gunman had a bomb strapped to his body.
There is the potential that there is a device on the body," said Sgt. Mark Stevens of the Colorado Springs Police Department.
While the assailant's identity has not yet been confirmed, police said they are already seeking search warrants for his vehicle and home for evidence that might explain the attack.
The others injured by the church gunman were taken to Penrose Community Hospital in Colorado Springs, said hospital spokeswoman Amy Sufak.
New Life was founded by the Rev. Ted Haggard, who was fired last year after a former male prostitute alleged he had a three-year cash- for-sex relationship with him. Haggard, then the president of the National Association of Evangelicals, admitted committing undisclosed "sexual immorality."
The New Life church is one of Colorado's largest, with about 10,000 members.
About 7,000 people were on the campus at the time of the shooting, Boyd said. Security at the church had been beefed up after the early morning shootings in Arvada, he said.
The first shooting happened at about 12:30 a.m. at the Youth With a Mission center in Arvada , police spokeswoman Susan Medina said.
A man and a woman were killed and two men were wounded, Medina said. All four were staff members of the center, said Paul Filidis, a Colorado Springs-based spokesman with Youth With a Mission.
Arvada Police Chief Don Wick said the suspect spent several minutes speaking with people inside the dorm. Peter Warren, director of Youth With a Mission, said the man asked whether he could spend the night. Several youths called on Tiffany Johnson, the center's director of hospitality.
Warren said Johnson was called and that the shooter then opened fire. Johnson, 26, was killed.
Warren said he didn't know whether any of the students or staff knew the gunman.
Witnesses told police that the gunman was a white male who appeared to be about 20 years old, wearing a dark jacket and skull cap, who left on foot. He may have glasses or a beard.
Police with dogs searched the area through the night, and residents of nearby homes were notified by reverse 911 to be on the lookout. Medina said residents were asked to look out their windows for any tracks left in the snow during the night. About 4 inches of snow had fallen in the past day.
In addition to Johnson, killed in Arvada was Philip Crouse, 24 .
The missionary center identified the wounded as Dan Griebenow, 24, and Charlie Blanch , 22 . One of the men was in critical condition, and the other was stable, police said.
About 45 people were evacuated from the Youth with a Mission dormitory and moved to an undisclosed location.
The missionary center is on the grounds of the Faith Bible Chapel. Cheril Morrison, wife of chapel pastor George Morrison, said Crouse had just hung up Christmas lights at her home and that Johnson was "an amazingly beautiful person."
Darv Smith, director of a Youth With a Mission center in Boulder, said people ranging in age from their late teens to their 70s undergo a 12-week course that prepares them to be missionaries. He said the center trains about 300 people a year.
This story was compiled from reports by The Associated Press, The Denver Post and The (Colorado Springs) Gazette.
first missionary center shooting
A bout 12:30 a.m. a gunman killed two people at the Youth With a Mission center in Arvada, Colo., after being told he couldn't spend the night. Peter Warren, right, the center's director, said he didn't know whether any of the students or staff knew the gunman. second New Life Church shooting
About 12 hours later in Colorado Springs, about 65 miles away, at least five people were shot, one fatally, at the New Life Church, a 10,000-member church that is one of the largest in Colorado. At right, women mourn outside the church. police investigate
Above, law enforcement officials swarm New Life Church on Sunday in Colorado Springs, Colo. At least five people were shot, one fatally, at the church Sunday. A church security guard then fatally shot the gunman.
Late Sunday, police were using a robot to determine whether the gunman had a bomb strapped to his body.
There is the potential that there is a device on the body," said Sgt. Mark Stevens of the Colorado Springs Police Department.
(c) 2007 Virginian - Pilot. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.
