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Man opens fire, kills 2 at New Life Church in Colorado Springs

Rocky Mountain News

Published December 9, 2007 at 1:41 p.m.
Updated December 9, 2007 at 6:40 p.m.

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Police investigate a shooting at the New Life Church in Colorado Springs today after a gunman opened fire at worshipers this afternoon.

Photo by Ahmad Terry © The Rocky

Police investigate a shooting at the New Life Church in Colorado Springs today after a gunman opened fire at worshipers this afternoon.

A police officer escorts churchgoers to their vehicle after police responded to the New Life Church in Colorado Springs this afternoon. A gunman began shooting at worshipers shortly after 1 p.m.

A police officer escorts churchgoers to their vehicle after police responded to the New Life Church in Colorado Springs this afternoon. A gunman began shooting at worshipers shortly after 1 p.m.

A SWAT member takes up a position in the parking lot of the New Life Church in Colorado Springs this afternoon after a gunman opened fire on worshipers.

A SWAT member takes up a position in the parking lot of the New Life Church in Colorado Springs this afternoon after a gunman opened fire on worshipers.

Police survey the scene this afternoon after a gunman opened fire on worshipers at New Life Church in Colorado Springs. Authorities said the gunman was killed by a church security officer. A church member was killed and four others were hurt

Police survey the scene this afternoon after a gunman opened fire on worshipers at New Life Church in Colorado Springs. Authorities said the gunman was killed by a church security officer. A church member was killed and four others were hurt

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COLORADO SPRINGS — A gunman opened fire at a Colorado Springs church today, killing two people and injuring three others before he was shot and killed by a church security officer.

The conditions of the those wounded at the New Life Church were not immediately released at a news conference shortly before 6 p.m.

The dead were church members, officials said.

Lance Coles, a pastor at New Life Church, told The Associated Press he received a report that a man was shooting at people in the church parking lot and that the gunman entered the church shortly after 1 p.m.

Police soon said they believed the shooter was "down" inside the church's main sanctuary.

Hundreds remained locked in church buildings as police conducted what they said was a precautionary search for additional gunmen, police Lt. Fletcher Howard said.

In a brief statement, New Life head Pastor Brady Boyd asked for community support.

“Please pray for those who were injured,” said Boyd, who watched the events unfold from his second-floor office window.

It was not immediately known whether the shootings were related to an earlier shooting about 70 miles away in Arvada. There, two people died and two were wounded early today when a gunman opened fire in a dormitory at a missionary training center on the campus of Faith Bible Chapel.

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 church is one of Colorado's largest with about 10,000 members.

More details shortly at RockyMountainNews.com

The Associated Press, CBS4 News and The Gazette contributed to this report.

Comments

  • December 9, 2007

    2:17 p.m.

    GeneralDissaray writes:

    (This comment was removed by the site staff.)

  • December 9, 2007

    2:25 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Wolfgang writes:

    GeneralDissaray,

    I guess I missed the part of the article where the cops did something dumb. Could you point that out for me?

  • December 9, 2007

    2:28 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Cable writes:

    The only mistake im see'ing is the statement that the shootings are not related, come on common sense says they are.

  • December 9, 2007

    2:45 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    scandenver writes:

    You can listen to Colorado Springs Fire responding to the shooting by going to http://www.scandenver.net/LibraryArti...

  • December 9, 2007

    3:52 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Alive writes:

    Smart people will be armed. For home protection a shotgun is best. It doesn't require aiming accuracy and the projectiles will not penitrate into an innocent neighbors house. Another plus is that recent studies have shown, the racking sound of a shotgun is one of the most fear inducing sounds a human can hear.

    It is a dangerous world and being prepaired gives one a fighting chance. Be smart. Be aware of your surroundings and stay alive.

  • December 9, 2007

    4:18 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    MikeHunt writes:

    The following advice as to arming onself is questionable, Here is why:
    >>Smart people will be armed.<<

    Smart people who have taken training will be armed.

    >>For home protection a shotgun is best.<<

    If you've not trained with a shotgun you will fire it indoors and think you've gone deaf and your ears are bleeding. Also, the physical make-up of your abode might dictate a pistol or possibly a rifle. There is no one "best" selection for everyone.

    >>It doesn't require aiming accuracy and the projectiles will not penitrate into an innocent neighbors house.<<

    Obviously you don't own a shotgun. At 20 feet, my 00-buck, the recommended home defense load, will make a pattern about the size of my fist, or possibly 6" at the max. That sure as hell takes aiming!!!

    >>Another plus is that recent studies have shown, the racking sound of a shotgun is one of the most fear inducing sounds a human can hear.<<

    Can you point me to that "study"? And BTW, racking that slide also tells what are most likely two or more intruders EXACTLY where you are. GET SOME TRAINING!!!

    MH

  • December 9, 2007

    4:21 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    localyokal writes:

    I don't believe either incident happened within the jurisdiction of the Denver Police Department, generaldissary. You need to explain your agenda, so we can better respond to the root of your discontent. The cops in both areas responded quickly.

  • December 9, 2007

    5:02 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    GeneralDissaray writes:

    I dont appreciate your threats localyokal,or your ignorance.but i do understand them.with a name like that ,its obvious your father and brother are one in the same.

  • December 9, 2007

    6:41 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    AmbulanceDriver writes:

    CharlesB, Apparently that would be the threat of exposing him as an idiot with an agenda.....