Emergency crews responding to a report of a shooting inside a dormitory room at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs say they are “not sure” if the scene is stable or if they are witnessing a shooting.
“Engine 9 is responding to a shooting victim at 4645 Clydeway UCCS Alpine Village,” authorities can be heard saying in a Colorado Springs Fire and Emergency dispatch recording reviewed by Fox News Digital.
“Engine 9 is dispatched. They’re scheduled to arrive at room 108 on the first floor. PD is on the way. …We don’t know yet if the scene is safe.”
It was just before 6:30 a.m. on Friday. Two days later, the victims were identified as Samuel Knopp, 24, a student at the university, and Celie Lane Montgomery, 26, who was not a student.
On Monday, Colorado Springs police announced that Nicholas Jordan was arrested as a suspect in the incident.
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Sam Knopp, 24, is pictured in a Son’s Day memorial posted by his mother on Facebook. (Amy Elswick Knopp/Facebook)
Knopp’s mother’s Facebook posts on the day of the shooting reflected first responders’ uncertainty about what was happening in the upperclassman’s dormitory.
Knopp’s mother wrote on Facebook at 10:46 a.m. on February 16, “We received a report of a shooting on campus at UCCS, where my son Sam is a senior.”
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“At least one person has died. We have not heard from Sam. He lives in Alpine Village and residents have been told to shelter in place.”
About 30 minutes later, she updated her post to say one person had died.
“Authorities currently say there is no threat,” she said, but noted there was a heavy police presence outside her son’s dormitory.
Sam Knopp’s mother wrote this message before she learned her son was killed in the February 16, 2024, shooting. (Amy Elswick Knopp/Facebook)
Sam Knopf was a 24-year-old senior and musician at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs when he was shot and killed on February 16, 2024. (UCCS music program/YouTube)
Shortly after 2 p.m., she wrote, “Nothing official, but I heard a woman was shot and killed in Sam’s dormitory…”
At that point, neither Knopf’s mother nor any of the friends and family who asked about Sam’s well-being knew that the 24-year-old musician had been murdered. After police announced Knopp’s murder, she stopped responding and her timeline was flooded with messages of condolence.
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She was proud of her son and always posted a picture of Sam on Son’s Day and a picture of his twin sister on Daughter’s Day.
“Happy Son’s Day, Sam!!! I love you to the moon (I thought Son’s Day was in March, but hey, it’s okay),” she wrote in a post with a photo of her son. wrote.
Dean Jennifer Sobanet wrote in an email to students that he is a fourth-year student and “a beloved member of the School of Visual and Performing Arts.” “He was an accomplished guitarist and a very talented musician.”
His junior recitals, shown on the university’s music department’s YouTube page, showcase his talent and humor.
Full video (fast forward to about 22 minutes to see Knopf go wild)
The other victim was identified as Celie Lane Montgomery, 26. Law enforcement said she was not enrolled at the university and did not elaborate on whether she had a relationship with Mr. Knopp or why she was in the dormitory. .
One of Montgomery’s relatives, Jackie Higginbotham, said she was a single mother with two young children.
“Please send prayers for my family. One of the victims of this shooting, Celie Montgomery, was my cousin’s daughter,” Higginbotham wrote on Facebook. “She was a single mother with two young children.
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“My cousin is now having to deal with mourning the death of her daughter (as a mother of two daughters, I can’t even imagine how painful that must be) and at the same time having a grandson without a mother. We have to be strong for our sake.”
“And my 87-year-old uncle never in his worst nightmare ever thought he’d be saying goodbye to his granddaughter. It’s a really scary thing. I never thought I’d say goodbye to my granddaughter until it happens. You would never think something like this would happen to your family. Please pray.” To my cousin Melody and her husband, Uncle Larry, and Celie’s children, ages 5 and 7. ”
On February 16, 2024, Celie Montgomery, 26, was shot and killed at the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs. (Cerry Montgomery/Facebook)
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Police announced early Monday morning that they had arrested Nicholas Jordan on suspicion of double murder.
A man was spotted in a vehicle at 7:52 a.m. Monday, and the department’s tactical team responded forcefully and arrested the suspect at 8:37 a.m.
Police said he will be charged and processed at the El Paso County Jail, allaying fears of parents and students, including Tara Sparks, who spoke to Fox News Digital.
“It’s a relief to know that the suspect is in custody, but there are bigger issues that need to be addressed,” said Sparks, whose daughter is a freshman at the university. “Our children need to be able to go to school to better themselves without worrying that something bad will happen. And unfortunately, the environment in which we live The world is not like that.”
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“We hope that UCCS will embrace this situation and take the initiative to prioritize the safety of our students and staff,” Professor Starks said.
fox news digital mitch picasso contributed to this report.
