Gunman Identified in CO Ministry Shootings

CBNNews.com

December 10, 2007

CBNNews.com - WASHINGTON - Police have identified the gunman who is believed to have killed four people in separate attacks on two Christian ministries in Colorado, Sunday.

The gunman has been identified as Matthew Murray, 24. Murray was shot and killed after a confrontation with a security guard at the megachurch where he began his second attack.

He had been thrown out of the school a few years ago and had been sending it hate mail, police said in court papers Monday.

The first attack was on a training center for Youth With A Mission near Denver. The second shooting came more than 12 hours later at New Life Church in Colorado Springs, where Y-WAM has an office. The training center is 65 miles from the megachurch founded by now-disgraced pastor Ted Haggard.

"Through both investigations it has been determined that most likely the suspect in both shootings are one in the same," police said in court papers, confirming what investigators suspected early on..

Fifth Victim Dies

In all, five people - including the gunman - died. Five more were wounded during the shootings.

A second wounded victim, shot in the attack at New Life Church in Colorado Springs, has also died.

"I was completely shocked that anyone would want to do this - first up at the Y-WAM base,Youth With a Mission, just going out and trying to help people from other countries and then at a local church," said one parishioner.

The nightmare began shortly after midnight Sunday morning, when employees at Y-WAM's Arvada training center refused to let a man stay at the facility. He opened fire, killing two people before getting away.

The second attack began at the church just as Sunday services came to an end. Hundreds of people in the congregation were greeting one another or picking up their kids from children's church when the house of worship also became the scene of a violent crime.

"I am proud the way our team responded today, we had a plan in place as I told you before and it worked well," said New Life's Senior Pastor Brady Boyd.

One church-goer was killed before a security guard shot Murray.

"The active shooter had been shot by a security staff member of the church - a courageous security staff member who probably saved many lives," Colorado Springs Police Chief Richard Myers said.

The church beefed up its security after hearing about the shootings earlier at youth with a mission.

Youth, Church Members Call on God for Strength

"What must be in some of these young people to come to such an extreme point where they're willing to, you know, shoot and kill? It's a very sad, sad situation," said Paul Filidis, spokesman for Youth With a Mission.

Today, both faith communities are standing firm that they will survive as they depend on God for strength and guidance through this tragedy.

"Our church has gone through difficult times in the past. Our church will survive, and do well," Boyd said.

Doug Newcomb of Faith Bible Chapel said, "I think it reminds us that we need to call on God. And that's exactly what Youth With a Mission specialized in is getting people to look towards God. He is our protection."

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