October 2015 Colorado Springs shooting
| 2015 Colorado Springs shooting | |
|---|---|
| Location | Lua error in Module:WikidataIB at line 665: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). |
| Date | Lua error in Module:WikidataIB at line 665: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). |
| Target | Random civilians |
Attack type | Triple-murder, shooting |
| Weapons | DPMS Classic 16 (AR-15 style rifle) |
| Deaths | 4 (including the perpetrator) |
Non-fatal injuries | 0 |
| Perpetrator | Noah Jacob Harpham |
| Motive | Unknown |
On October 31, 2015, a shooting occurred near downtown Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States.[1] The shooting began around 8:45 a.m., though a 911 call was placed 10 minutes earlier[2] on the morning of Saturday, October 31, which was Halloween.[1] Three people were randomly shot and killed[3] by a gunman, later identified as 33-year-old Noah Harpham, as they were walking down Prospect Street[4] near downtown Colorado Springs.[1] A man riding a bicycle was the first victim shot[5] after pleading for his life, according to eyewitness reports.[6] The gunman then turned and ran, killing two women. These women were either killed randomly as the gunman ran down the street, firing at random[6] or sitting on a porch targeted by the gunman.[7] The gunman was later killed in a shootout with four police officers in which he was struck once.[8][1][9] In total, there were three crime scenes. This was the first of two shootings in Colorado Springs in less than a month; the second was the Planned Parenthood mass shooting, 28 days later.
Perpetrator
33-year old Noah Jacob Harpham[7] used a DPMS Classic 16, an AR-15 style semi-automatic rifle, to kill victims.[10] Harpham was also armed with a Ruger SP101 .357 Magnum revolver and a Springfield Armory XD-M 9mm pistol,[7][11] although it does not appear that either pistol was used in any of the shootings. All three guns were legally purchased in 2009.[12]
No motive was found for the shooting, and no apparent warning signs existed, despite a video and blog posted days earlier in which Harpham complained about his parents and family life.[7][12] In the blog titled "Is my dad in a cult? Even worse, is it satanic?" he questioned his father's involvement with Bill Johnson, the pastor of Bethel Church, whom he accused of being a satanist trying to control the minds of his followers.[13][14]Harpham's mother had written a book in 2013 which she stated that her son had issues regarding anger and alcoholism.[15]
Victims
Andrew Alan Myers, 35, was the first person killed by Harpham.[16] He was an Iraq War veteran, and the bicyclist who crossed Harpham's path.[17] Christy Galella, 34, and Jennifer Vasquez, 42, were residents of the Platte House, a shelter for women recovering from drug and/or alcohol addiction.[16] One of the women died in the house's doorway while the other was killed on the house's porch.[16] None of the victims appeared to have connections to Harpham.[16]
Criticism of police response
A 911 call was placed ten minutes before Harpham began shooting, as a neighbor reported Harpham walking around carrying a rifle and gas cans.[18] Colorado is an open carry state, so the 911 operator dispatched only one officer who was later called off to respond to a disturbance that "threatened human life" at a senior home.[18][19] No other officers were available to respond so the operator terminated the call.[19] Four minutes later, the same caller called back to report Myers' death.[19] There was nationwide outrage that the 911 operator did not do enough to prevent the shooting, but the department insisted the operator followed protocol.[19][20] Many, including Colorado activist group Colorado Ceasefire, called on the city to ban open carry, though the mayor insisted they would not.[18]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Ellis, Ralph (November 1, 2015). "4 dead, including suspect, in Colorado Springs shooting". CNN. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
- ↑ Rodgers, Jakob. "Colorado Springs police defend dispatchers involved in downtown shooting spree". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved 2018-12-31.
- ↑ "Gunman kills 3 in downtown Colorado Springs shooting spree, police say". foxnews.com. Associated Press. 2015-10-31. Retrieved 2018-12-31.
- ↑ Steiner, Matt; Hobbs, Stephen. "4 dead, including suspected gunman, after morning shootings in downtown Colorado Springs". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved 2018-12-31.
- ↑ Rodgers, Jakob. "Questions remain in aftermath of Colorado Springs shootout with gunman". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved 2018-12-31.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Witnesses describe terrifying scene during Colorado Springs rampage". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 2018-12-31.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Gurman, Sadie. "Colorado Springs gunman showed no signs of violence in video". Colorado Springs Gazette. Associated Press. Retrieved 2018-12-31.
- ↑ Hobbs, Stephen. "UPDATE: What gunman was armed with in Colorado Springs shooting spree". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved 2018-12-31.
- ↑ "Colorado Springs police defend actions of 911 dispatcher during Halloween shooting; names released of officers involved in shootout". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved 2018-12-31.
- ↑ 4th Judicial District Attorney’s Office. "Investigative Report from 10/31/2015 Incident Pursuant to C.R.S. §§ 16-2.5-301 and 20-1-114" (PDF) – via csindy.com.
- ↑ Hobbs, Stephen. "UPDATE: What gunman was armed with in Colorado Springs shooting spree". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved 2018-12-31.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Shooter in Colorado Springs rampage legally purchased guns". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 2018-12-31.
- ↑ Wade, Madison (2015-11-04). "Colorado gunman complains about Bethel Church; officials respond". KRCR. Retrieved 2026-06-03.
- ↑ "Killer was upset his father turned to a Christian pastor - Premier Christian News | Headlines, Breaking News, Comment & Analysis". premierchristian.news. Retrieved 2026-06-03.
- ↑ "Colorado Springs shootings: gunman's addiction battle emerges in mother's book".
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 Rodgers, Jakob (November 6, 2015). "Family recalls victim in Colorado Springs shooting spree as 'loving'". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved 2018-12-31.
- ↑ "Bicyclist Killed on Colorado Street Was Iraq War Veteran". NBC Chicago. 2015-11-03. Retrieved 2025-01-10.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 Rodgers, Jakob (November 5, 2015). "Colorado Springs mayor has no 'appetite for' changing city's open-carry law". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved 2018-12-31.
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 Rodgers, Jakob (November 4, 2015). "Colorado Springs police defend dispatchers involved in downtown shooting spree". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved 2018-12-31.
- ↑ Nicholson, Kieran (November 4, 2015). "Colorado Springs police release tape of 911 call warning of man with gun". The Denver Post. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
External links
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