Police say the suspect in the killing on the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs campus was actually a registered student at the school. The two victims were found dead in the suspect’s dormitory room.
Colorado Springs Police said on Feb 16, they dispatched officers to respond to the report of shots fired in Crestone House, a residence hall on campus. Police found 24-year-old USSC student Samuel Knopp and 26-year-old Celie Rain Montgomery, his girlfriend from outside the school, deceased in a dorm room with gunshot wounds to the head. That evening, authorities say they secured an arrest warrant for two counts of murder in the first degree for 25-year-old Nicholas Jordan - who police say was not only a UCCS student but also Knopp’s roommate.
As the police tried to track down Jordan, the university went on lockdown for only an hour after it was discovered Jordan already fled the campus, CSPD said. It wasn’t until Monday morning, police found him sitting in his car with a firearm and arrested him.
At the moment, the motive for the shooting is unknown but the discovery that the culprit came from within the institution sent a chilling effect across the campus. All campus-related activities were cancelled for the weekend. Students, school officials and nearby residents came together for a healing walk after Jordan was arrested, per The Denver Post.
“CSPD has reiterated that investigative efforts so far continue to indicate this is an isolated incident between parties that were known to one another and not a random attack against the school or other students at the university. The university will continue to share information as we are able,” said Chancellor Jennifer Sobanet in a statement.
In a court hearing Tuesday, El Paso County Court Judge Gerhart set Jordan’s cash-only bail for $5 million, justifying the amount based on him originally being from Detroit and allegedly trying to cross state lines, per The Denver Post. The judge also said Jordan poses a threat to public safety.
Anyone with information or who is a witness to this investigation is asked to call the Colorado Springs Police Department at (719) 444-7000; or if you wish to remain anonymous, you may contact the Crime Stoppers Tip Line at (719) 634-STOP (7867) or 1-800-222-8477.