Wait, what?! All reports said they were clearing it last night because of items he brought in-- they were evaluating if they were explosives or not.
I'm not sure. It was reported by the Denver NBC affiliate just before I posted. It doesn't really make sense that they would wait til morning.
Nothing makes sense here. This is a disaster on all levels. Ugh.
From the lack of communication with (from?) the shooter while it was ongoing, to the lack of any accounts of what was happening inside, from the lack of any police statement about this murderer/the investigation, to the lack of any reporting on him. It is so weird and adds to the scope of the chaos and disaster.
Post by sparrowsong on Nov 28, 2015 10:55:07 GMT -5
I saw the statement that they hadn't entered the building too. It's doubly confusing because weren't they entering the building to evacuate hostages? And PP did issue a statement that all staff and patients were accounted for.
I also saw a single sentence that his car in the parking lot was surrounded by explosives. No further info on that either.
I think there is a lot of bad info out there still.
I'm not sure. It was reported by the Denver NBC affiliate just before I posted. It doesn't really make sense that they would wait til morning.
Nothing makes sense here. This is a disaster on all levels. Ugh.
From the lack of communication with (from?) the shooter while it was ongoing, to the lack of any accounts of what was happening inside, from the lack of any police statement about this murderer/the investigation, to the lack of any reporting on him. It is so weird and adds to the scope of the chaos and disaster.
I don't know how much this is contributing to the situation, but COSprings is a mess at the local government level. During the recession they did things like turn off street lights because they couldn't pay for the electricity. From what I've heard, they still haven't really recovered from that, and I wonder how much that is showing up in the police dept.
In my search, I saw two LifeNews articles...one titled Officer Killed in PP Shooting was Pro-life and another Hillary Clinton Exploits CO Springs Shooting. :eye roll:
WTF?
Because of her #StandWithPP tweet yesterday. Oh, here we go again with how only the Dems/liberals politicize tragic events... because letting refugees in after an 18-24 month vetting process is a threat to our great nation but letting lunatics have as many guns as they damn well please is constitutional rights!!!#@
Nothing makes sense here. This is a disaster on all levels. Ugh.
From the lack of communication with (from?) the shooter while it was ongoing, to the lack of any accounts of what was happening inside, from the lack of any police statement about this murderer/the investigation, to the lack of any reporting on him. It is so weird and adds to the scope of the chaos and disaster.
I don't know how much this is contributing to the situation, but COSprings is a mess at the local government level. During the recession they did things like turn off street lights because they couldn't pay for the electricity. From what I've heard, they still haven't really recovered from that, and I wonder how much that is showing up in the police dept.
Is this the same department that didn't respond to the 911 call about the man with the gun because open carry is legal and there's nothing they can do, and then 3 people ended up dead on the street?
I don't know how much this is contributing to the situation, but COSprings is a mess at the local government level. During the recession they did things like turn off street lights because they couldn't pay for the electricity. From what I've heard, they still haven't really recovered from that, and I wonder how much that is showing up in the police dept.
Is this the same department that didn't respond to the 911 call about the man with the gun because open carry is legal and there's nothing they can do, and then 3 people ended up dead on the street?
Post by NewOrleans on Nov 28, 2015 11:07:09 GMT -5
Ted Cruz started praying for victims and first responders less than an hour ago. I guess he was washing his pantyhose last night while it was happening and couldn't pray publicly then.
Nothing makes sense here. This is a disaster on all levels. Ugh.
From the lack of communication with (from?) the shooter while it was ongoing, to the lack of any accounts of what was happening inside, from the lack of any police statement about this murderer/the investigation, to the lack of any reporting on him. It is so weird and adds to the scope of the chaos and disaster.
I don't know how much this is contributing to the situation, but COSprings is a mess at the local government level. During the recession they did things like turn off street lights because they couldn't pay for the electricity. From what I've heard, they still haven't really recovered from that, and I wonder how much that is showing up in the police dept.
Also (and someone else might have said this before me) this was something huge for the COSprings PD to deal with. I am assuming they don't deal with these sorts of things on the regular. They brought in officers from everywhere. The officer who died was campus police.
I think there are a lot of moving parts in the investigation still, so it's hard to make definitive statements. Though, I, too, am surprised we don't know more about this terrorist. I feel like we've had full life histories of others at this point.
As to not having cleared the building yet, I thought they were concerned about explosives, which is why it still may not have been cleared. I don't think it means they have left living people in there necessarily. pennypenny I think if they thought there were people still alive in there, they would have gone in for them.
"Not gonna lie; I kind of keep expecting you to post one day that you threw down on someone who clearly had no idea that today was NOT THEIR DAY." ~dontcallmeshirley
Ted Cruz started praying for victims and first responders less than an hour ago. I guess he was washing his pantyhose last night while it was happening and couldn't pray publicly then.
Either that or he wanted to make sure that none of the victims were dirty whores murdering their unborn children.
"Not gonna lie; I kind of keep expecting you to post one day that you threw down on someone who clearly had no idea that today was NOT THEIR DAY." ~dontcallmeshirley
I'm curious as to how all these cops got injured & 1 killed. I don't think they walked blindly into this & I"m sure they were prepared when they showed up. What is "long gun" - I kept hearing refernce to that. Is it like a sniper gun? I did hear the 1 cop that was killed was a University of Colorado campus cop?? So maybe he wasn't as well trained?
And again- WTF was this guy doing if his target was PP? Did he get inside & realize he couldn't get to any of the staff/patients? Then get backed int a corner by cops so he started shooting them?
A long gun is anything other than a pistol/handgun. It usually is considered a hunting rifle.
Post by litebright on Nov 28, 2015 11:50:29 GMT -5
This is from the DP. It sounds like he started in the parking lot, firing at people and at police cars as they arrived, before he went into the PP building. From this, it sounds like there was more than 30 minutes between when he started shooting and when he went inside. I read that some of the patients and staff barricaded themselves in a room away from the shooter. It's entirely possible, at least from what I've heard so far, that the people wounded and killed were all outside the PP.
ETA: This also mentions that he was shooting from inside the building at propane tanks in the parking lot -- I'm guessing that he placed them?
COLORADO SPRINGS — Authorities have not said exactly how a shooting spree at the Planned Parenthood on Friday played out, but emergency dispatch traffic showed the confusion and intensity of the situation as officers began to respond.
At 11:40 a.m., the Colorado Springs police scanner began to erupt.
"They are advising someone in the parking lot is shooting," a dispatcher hollered, according to archives captured on Broadcastify.com. "Actually we are getting several more calls now."
As units began to respond, three loud beeps came over the radio.
"Attention all units, attention all units," another dispatcher excitedly called. "CSPD is working an active shooter. Again, CSPD has an active shooter."
And then, one woman was reported shot. A middle-aged man in a jacket, callers said, was walking around the outside of the Planned Parenthood branch on Centennial Boulevard opening fire.
And then the gunman turned his weapon — described as a long gun — at officers.
"He's shooting! Stop there!" an officer called. "He's shooting at you as you're coming in!"
"I've been shot!" one officer said.
"I've been shot!" another said.
"Officer down!" said a third.
Garrett Swasey, a University of Colorado at Colorado Springs police officer, was one of the first to arrive. He was shot and killed.
"Shot! I'm shot!" an unidentified officer screamed over the radio about 12:10 p.m. so loudly his high-pitched yells were contorted. "I'm trying to get back to my car! I'm hit!"
Five minutes later, that officer had stopped moving, according to dispatch archives.
At roughly 12:15, the gunman went inside Planned Parenthood and began firing out the windows at propane tanks placed around the clinic's parking lot, an officer told dispatch over his radio.
As a gunfight played out between police and the shooter, some officers entered nearby businesses to protect those inside. Those first wounded made their way to other buildings for help.
Doctors in one office tended to a woman.
Patrons and workers at a nearby shopping center — including a King Soopers — were told to shelter in place. It was roughly eight hours before they were released from the area when they were moved in city buses.
Ted Cruz started praying for victims and first responders less than an hour ago. I guess he was washing his pantyhose last night while it was happening and couldn't pray publicly then.
Either that or he wanted to make sure that none of the victims were dirty whores murdering their unborn children.
"Oh shit, there was a cop killed? Well I guess I have to say something and pretend to be sad now, then. "
I don't know how much this is contributing to the situation, but COSprings is a mess at the local government level. During the recession they did things like turn off street lights because they couldn't pay for the electricity. From what I've heard, they still haven't really recovered from that, and I wonder how much that is showing up in the police dept.
As to not having cleared the building yet, I thought they were concerned about explosives, which is why it still may not have been cleared. I don't think it means they have left living people in there necessarily. @pennypennny I think if they thought there were people still alive in there, they would have gone in for them.
Police on Saturday morning said the "items" he left at the scene were secured, processed and no longer a threat. (From an article winecat posted on previous page)
Post by WanderingWinoZ on Nov 28, 2015 12:09:49 GMT -5
Also, they have access to the closed circuit to televisions inside and we're monitoring the shooter during the situation. I am sure they can see if there are any people still left in there, or at least have a view of most of the areas where they would suspect people are. But it's still strange that nobody has gone in side yet…
Post by CallingAllAngels on Nov 28, 2015 12:34:28 GMT -5
I wonder if he didn't shoot anyone affiliated with PP because they are prepared to deal with these situations and were able to respond quickly. It sounds like they had good security.
I know the college PD where I work is very well trained in active shooter situations. I would imagine that is par for the course for university PDs around the country, unfortunately. When the local city PD does active shooter training, they do it on our campus.
If the guy is off the grid I'd expect at least that to be reported.
They may not actually know that though. If he doesn't have any social media accounts or anything he may not have much of an online presence at all, and if he was a loner, there may not be much to get from friends, family, neighbors.
I'm plenty willing to criticize the coverage but it may be that they just don't have much info on him yet.
The local news is reporting that they're searching his house now. He lives in Hartsel which is a town of less than 1000 about an hour west of the Springs. Hopefully they'll be able to release more info about him soon.
YES! That's the asshole I was talking about last night! I watched him rant with my mouth hanging open, but they only said his name once and then I couldn't find a transcript via google. I'm so glad this is in print, because as you said, FUCK THAT ASSHOLE.
Post by jdnotbyrider on Nov 28, 2015 12:51:58 GMT -5
insert quote here
Bernie Sanders just now gave a brief statement about the attack (to go along with the tweet he made about it yesterday):
“While we still do not know the shooter’s motive, what is clear is that Planned Parenthood has been the subject of vicious and unsubstantiated statements attacking an organization that provides critical health care for millions of Americans. I strongly support Planned Parenthood and the work it is doing and hope people realize that bitter rhetoric can have unintended consequences.”
Post by tacosforlife on Nov 28, 2015 13:00:52 GMT -5
I am also really tired of the use of the vague term "mental health" in mass shooting situations. A lot of people have mental illnesses. Most of them are productive, functional people who would never commit a terrorist act. My husband has anxiety. I have occasionally dealt with mild to moderate depression. Neither of us have ever been a danger to our communities.
The implication that "mental health" is always to blame both oversimplifies the issue and perpetuates the stigma that prevents many people from seeking the mental health care they need. People don't want to be labeled as "crazy" of "mentally ill" partly because we equate mental illness with instability and violence when in the VAST majority of cases it's not true.
So I'd really like people to lay off the "mental illness" talk until we have an actual clinical condition identified, if one ever is.
Yes tacosforlife! I think what pissed me off most in that video of the idiotic Republican Rep on CNN was him saying the man must be psychotic and a little crazy. First, crazy isn't an actual mental illness. Second, I doubt he has any what psychosis actually is and how prevalent they're finding it to be, not just in people with schizophrenia. I mean everything he said pissed me right the hell off, but the demonization of mental illnesses really bothers me. As does the demonization of women who want agency over their own bodies.