Colorado Springs police have provided few official details in the days following the 31 October shooting that left four dead, but a picture has emerged as witnesses and friends and family of the victims come forward.
Two women were shot outside of a home run by the nonprofit Alano House, which provides housing and treatment programs to recovering alcoholics and addicts. The third victim, who has not been identified, was struck while riding his bike.
Kari Chastain, clinical director of Alano House, confirmed that residents Christy Galella and Jennifer Vasquez were killed in the shooting. She said that residents of the home the women were shot outside of are being kept together so that they can support each other.
“Obviously this is quite a tragedy so pretty much all of today and all of the weekend was spent doing all we can to help and support them – getting the other girls who lived in the house to a safe place and taking care of them,” Chastain said.
She said that support from the community and state “has meant the world to the girls”.
The nonprofit’s website has a donation section and money can be directed specifically to the victims’ families.
Galella’s aunt, Rita Nicholas, also created an online fundraiser to help Galella’s family pay for the funeral and other related costs.
“She got it together,” Nicholas told the Colorado Springs Gazette. “She got a couple jobs and was doing really well. And then this happened.”
Eloy Navarro told KKTV that Vasquez was a family friend. He said she was a mother of two who was an excellent cook.
“We’re just saddened by all this that happened, and like they were saying, we can’t understand why, and when it’s going to stop,” said Navarro.
Navarro was one of dozens of community members to attend a candlelight vigil in downtown Colorado Springs held on Sunday night in honor of the victims.
Everyone is now singing "This little light of mine." @csgazette #ColoradoSpringsShooting pic.twitter.com/lEsBOtqunN
— Jakob Rodgers (@JakobRodgers) November 2, 2015
The El Paso county sheriff’s office is expected to provide more details on the victims and gunman on Monday, but spokeswoman Jacqueline Kirby said there is “no set timeline” for the release of this information.
She said that once the coroner identifies the suspect, police will identify him or her.
Someone first called police about a possible shooting at 8.45am on Saturday.
Officers encountered the suspect a few blocks from the sober living home minutes later. The sheriff’s office said the gunman shot at the officers multiple times and the officers returned fire. The gunman died in the shootout.
At least four officers are on routine leave following the officer-involved shooting.
Colorado Springs mayor John Suthers issued a statement on Monday and said “there is no continuing threat to the community”.
“However, on behalf of all the citizens of Colorado Springs, I want to convey our heartfelt sympathies to the families and friends of the victims of this crime,” Suthers said. “I am gratified that neighbors and neighborhood organizations in the area of the crime have rallied to honor the victims and support their families and friends.”
