Police Think Colorado Shooting Linked

The police in the two jurisdictions where shooting occurred yesterday believe the two incidents are related but have yet to formally link them. The two locations, a missionary training facility and a church, share a connection by virtue of a small office maintained at the church by the missionary group. So it seems likely that the two incidents are related somehow, just on that basis. Police from both the Arvada and Colorado Springs police are searching a single home located in Englewood, Colorado.

Five people, including a gunman, died in the attacks Sunday at a megachurch in Colorado Springs and at the Youth With a Mission missionary center in the Denver suburb of Arvada. Five others 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," said Gov. Bill Ritter.

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."

At a news conference Sunday, Police Chief Don Wick said that there was "reason to believe" the shootings were connected, though he declined to elaborate.

Early Monday, authorities were searching a home in suburban Englewood, about 15 miles south of Denver, that they said could be related to the Colorado Springs shooting case. Authorities could be seen coming and going from the home, and at one point searching the bushes in front.

The Denver Post sounds even more sure that the two incidents are related:

Arvada police said Sunday they have "reason to believe" that deadly attacks at two religious institutions 70 miles apart that left five dead and six injured are probably linked.

Arvada Police Chief Don Wick said his agency sent officers to share notes with Colorado Springs police. And late Sunday, authorities from both agencies were searching a home in southeastern Arapahoe County they say could be related to the case.

"We have reason to believe that the two may be related," Wick said at a news briefing.

The church gunman was shot and killed by a female church security guard. That woman saved a lot of people. The shooter was wearing body armor according to this report.