COLORADO SPRINGS, CO – In a shocking incident on Friday, two individuals were discovered dead in a dorm room on the University of Colorado – Colorado Springs (UCCS) campus. The bodies were found by 6 a.m., both with gunshot wounds.
In response, the university canceled all classes for the day and initially enforced a lockdown and shelter-in-place order, which was later lifted. As the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) begins their homicide investigation, they believe this incident to be isolated. Via a tweet, the CSPD has affirmed that they see no ongoing threat to the community.
A statement later updated on social media by the department suggests it doesn’t appear to be a case of murder-suicide. Both deaths are currently considered homicides, with the police pledging to provide additional details as they become available. The victims’ identities remain unreleased at this time.
One student, Adam Trujillo, was caught off guard by the unsettling turn of events. He was notified about the lockdown through an email but found the scene engulfed by law enforcement and media coverage upon stepping out.
During the initial lockdown phase, students were advised to secure their doors, dim their lights, and maintain silence. That directive was later limited to the Alpine Village area. Eventually, students were given the all-clear to move freely around the campus.
Gov. Jared Polis stated he is closely monitoring the situation, offering state assistance as needed. He has directly communicated with the Department of Public Safety and CU President Todd Saliman.
Alpine Village, as mentioned on the UCCS website, is a section of the university that provides on-campus housing.
As a response to the tragic incident, the university is offering counseling services from within the CU community for students in distress. It also encourages students to contact 211 for mental health resources.