A suspect identified as 25-year-old Nicholas Jordan has been apprehended in relation to a tragic shooting incident that resulted in the deaths of two individuals inside a dormitory room on the University of Colorado – Colorado Springs (UCCS) campus. The arrest, made in Colorado Springs on Monday morning, was announced by local authorities.
Colorado Springs Police Chief Adrian Vasquez described the arrest as “smooth,” indicating that law enforcement successfully located and detained the suspect without incident. It has been determined that both the suspect and the victims were acquainted with each other. The Colorado Springs Police Department stressed that the shooting was not a random attack targeting the university or its student body.
The victims, identified as a 24-year-old man named Samuel Knopp and a 26-year-old woman named Celie Rain Montgomery, were discovered with gunshot wounds in Crestone House, located in the Alpine Village area of the UCCS campus. Knopp was a registered student at UCCS from Parker, while Montgomery hailed from Pueblo.
Nicholas Jordan, a Detroit native, is enrolled as a student at UCCS, according to school spokesman Chris Valentine. Late on Friday, police obtained an arrest warrant for Jordan on two counts of first-degree murder. He was apprehended during a traffic stop near the 4900 block of Cliff Point Circle East and subsequently taken into custody at the El Paso County Jail.
The investigation into the incident remains active, with the Colorado Springs Police Department urging anyone with pertinent information to come forward. Individuals can contact the police department directly or remain anonymous by reaching out to the Crime Stoppers Tip Line.
In response to the tragedy, the university organized a “healing march,” bringing together members of the UCCS community to offer support and solidarity. UCCS Chancellor Jennifer Sobanet, student body president Axel Brown, and UCCS Police Chief Dewayne McCarver were among the speakers at the event.
The healing march, which commenced at the Roaring Fork dining hall and concluded at El Pomar Plaza, served as a symbol of unity and resilience within the campus community. Participants expressed their grief and shared memories of the victims, emphasizing the need for collective healing and support during this challenging time.
Meanwhile, students on campus mourned the loss of their peers and offered condolences to the families and friends of the victims. The tragedy underscored the importance of coming together as a community to process grief and provide mutual support.
The University of Colorado – Colorado Springs campus, situated along Austin Bluffs Parkway in northeast Colorado Springs, is one of four universities within the University of Colorado system.
