Sunday, December 9, 2007      Add a Comment

Reposted From: NY Times

Two shootings at religious sites today left three people and a gunman dead and several people wounded in Colorado, although the police could not confirm whether they were connected.

The first shooting occurred about 12:30 a.m. Mountain time in Arvada, about 15 miles northwest of Denver at the offices of Youth With a Mission, an evangelical Christian group that trains missionaries.

Two people were killed, and two were injured.

At about 1 p.m. in Colorado Springs, about 70 miles away, at least four people were shot, one fatally, in the parking lot of the New Life Church, the 14,000-member evangelical Christian megachurch that was founded by the Rev. Ted Haggard, who was fired last year after charges of sexual impropriety. Chief Richard Myers of the Colorado Springs police said a security guard had shot and killed the gunman there.

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

The Rev. Brady Boyd said he had watched the events unfold from his second-floor office. �?¢â�??¬�?�??My heart is broken today for the people who lost their lives,�?¢â�??¬�? but he added that the church had a security plan in place and that �?¢â�??¬�?�??many, many�?¢â�??¬�? lives were saved because of the security guard�?¢â�??¬â�??¢s actions.

Youth With a Mission has a small office on the New Life Church campus, The Associated Press reported, but the police in both towns would not confirm any link between the shootings.

The police in Arvada said that they considered the suspect in the shooting there still at large.

The deadly shootings at the Arvada mission occurred after the gunman was told he could not spend the night there, a mission official said. Those killed there were Tiffany Johnson, 26, of Minnesota and Philip Crouse, 24, of Alaska. The injured were Charlie Blanch, 22, and Dan Griebenow, 24, according to a Youth With a Mission. One reported in critical condition and the other in stable condition.

At a news conference in Arvada, the police said they were sharing information with the Colorado Springs police and the county sheriff.

After the news conference, Peter Warren, the local mission director, said that a Christmas banquet at the mission building had ended around 8 p.m., and the doors were locked at midnight.

Mr. Warren said the suspect was in his 20s, wearing a dark jacket and a dark beanie.

He said the man was not homeless, but asked about staying the night. The police said the suspect spoke with several people for a few minutes before the shooting began. One was Ms. Johnson, the director of hospitality, Mr. Warren said.

Mr. Warren said it was not unusual for outsiders to join the missionaries in training for worship or a meal. But he indicated this man would not be allowed to spend the night.

�?¢â�??¬�?�??Who would invited a stranger to come into their house?�?¢â�??¬�? he said.

Mr. Warren added that he believed the suspect had some knowledge of the missionary activities going on there.

�?¢â�??¬�?�??I do think it�?¢â�??¬â�??¢s someone who knew what Youth With a Mission was,�?¢â�??¬�? he said, adding that the suspect had �?¢â�??¬�?�??casual contact�?¢â�??¬�? with some of the people there.

�?¢â�??¬�?�??I don�?¢â�??¬â�??¢t know why this kid did this,�?¢â�??¬�? Mr. Warren said. �?¢â�??¬�?�??But I think, really, our perspective is God is the only one who can judge.�?¢â�??¬�?

Youth With a Mission describes itself as an interdenominational Christian movement that helps young people get involved in short-term missionary service. It reports having 16,000 staff members around the world who train 25,000 people a year.

The police blocked off the road to the missionary center today. The building was flanked by two tall, slim crosses, about 20 feet high, and a police car with flashing lights.