December 11, 2007

The gunman has been identified as 24-year-old Matthew Murray, son of respected Dr. Ron Murray. He was shot by one of New Life Church's security guards, when he ran into the building, still shooting and injuring more people. The shooting here and the one in Arvada belong together, as has been found out. Please read full coverage in ASSIST News Service our in your local news.

Please keep praying as the families of the deceased and injured are desperate, the same as the family of the gunman.

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Four People Dead in Two Religious Center Shootings

Jeremy Reynalds, ASSIST News Service, December 9, 2007

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO (ANS) -- Authorities say six people, including the gunman, were shot on Sunday in the second shooting of the day at a Colorado religious center.

The gunfire erupted at the 10,000-plus member mega-church, New Life Church, just after 1 p.m., according to authorities.

KOAA reported the gunman opened fire at the New Life Church, located at 11025 Voyager Parkway in Colorado Springs, as the 12 p.m. service was getting out. Authorities say the shooting occurred outside of the church.

Colorado Springs Police Chief Richard Myers confirmed at a 5:40 p.m. press briefing that a church security guard shot and killed the gunman.

Myers said one other person died at the scene. NBC affiliate KUSA (www.9news.com/news/top-article.aspx?storyid=82473) confirmed the victim was a teenage girl.

Four additional shooting victims were taken to a local hospital, some with life-threatening injuries, KUSA reported Myers said.

SWAT officers searching the New Life campus found several suspicious devices. Myers said they were conducting a second search Sunday evening.

Police are not releasing any information about what kind of weapon was used in the attack. KUSA said the gunman was dressed with a tactical helmet and body armor.

About 100 people were still inside the church after the shooting. They were still there Sunday evening, where they were being interviewed with police.

Immediately following the shooting, businesses in the area, including Lockheed Martin, were put on lockdown.

Three people were taken to Penrose Community Hospital in Colorado Springs, where they were listed in critical, fair and good condition, a hospital spokeswoman told The Associated Press.

New Life Church Pastor Brady Boyd said he had watched the shooting from his second-floor office.

"My heart is broken today for the people who lost their lives," the New York Times reported Boyd said in a news conference. He said the church had a security plan in place, however, and that "many, many" lives had been saved because of the security guard's actions.

"Please pray for our church; pray for the people who were injured," Boyd said in a news conference. He also praised the rapid response by police.

Boyd said the following number has been set up for church members who need help or have questions: 719-594-6602

New Life Church was founded by Ted Haggard. Haggard was forced out after admitting in Nov. 2006 to sexual immorality and purchasing methamphetamines from a gay escort.

Boyd took over as pastor in August 2007.

Earlier on Sunday, two people were killed and two others were injured in a shooting at Youth with a Mission (YWAM) in Arvada when a lone gunman opened fire and then fled the scene. He has not been apprehended.

KUSA reported that police are not presently linking the two shootings.

Dale Lambert, the assistant director to YWAM said there is no direct link between the YWAM program in Arvada to New Life Church. However, YWAM in Colorado Springs does have a small office on the New Life Church campus.

KUSA reported that Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter issued the following statement on the shootings.

He said, "Today, Colorado mourns the tragic loss of those killed and injured in two senseless shootings. Our deepest sympathies go out to the families of those who were taken from us, and we pray for the speedy recovery of those who were wounded. 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."

Also according to KUSA, Colorado's U.S. Senator Ken Salazar also issued a statement about the shootings.

"My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families at this tragic time. It is incomprehensible that such atrocities could occur in places of faith and worship. It is my hope that the assailants are caught and swiftly brought to justice," he said.