COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV) – The University of Colorado, Colorado Springs campus was on lockdown Friday morning. Two people were found dead in a dorm. The lockdown has since been lifted for the whole campus.
Colorado Springs Police say that the lockdown was put in place tied to a call for shots fired at about 6 a.m.
“Urgent UCCSAlert: Lockdown! Lock interior doors. Turn out the lights. Move away from sight. Do not open the door. Maintain silence. Evade/Defend,” UCCS Police posted to social media at the start of the situation.
Police provided an update at 11:10 a.m. stating they were very early in the investigative process and didn’t have many details to share. The two deaths are being investigated as homicides, however, police say there is no known threat to the community and the believe this was an isolated incident.
Details on a possible suspect or suspects were not shared with the public the last time this article was updated at 2:45 p.m. It isn’t clear if everyone involved is accounted for. The campus was closed for the rest of the day.
Friday afternoon, university officials said the campus would remain closed and all classes, meetings, activities, events and athletics on Saturday and Sunday.
UCCS said that counseling services would be offered for staff and students.
The following update was posted by UCCS Police at about 8 a.m.:
“UCCSAlert: Only those in Alpine Village shelter in place. We do not want movement in and around these areas. All others may leave campus.”
The shelter-in-place alert was lifted at about 9:35 a.m.
In a statement to the campus community released Friday afternoon, UCCS said:
Dear Mountain Lions,
The past few hours have been devastating for our Mountain Lion community. Our hearts are overcome by grief as unspeakable violence has reached into our home.
First, please know there is no longer a threat to campus and the shelter-in-place order has been lifted.
Campus is closed for the day. All classes, sporting events and other organized university activities are canceled.
While the investigation remains active, this is what we know: Just before 6 a.m., UCCS Dispatch received a call for service regarding shots fired in a dorm room on campus. UCCS Police responded and gained access to the dorm room at 6:05 a.m., where they discovered two deceased individuals. CSPD was notified at about 6:10 a.m. and responded to assist with initial scene security and the investigation, and, at the request of UCCS Police, assumed responsibility for the investigation.
CSPD is in the early stages of piecing together what happened, and they are in the process of notifying family members of the deceased individuals. There is not an ongoing threat to the community and CSPD is investigating this as an isolated incident. CSPD will release more information when appropriate.
The safety and security of the campus community is the first priority. We are grateful to the first responders from our University Police and the Colorado Springs Police Department for their quick and dedicated response.
And we are grateful to our campus community for heeding the call to shelter in place while officers responded to ensure the safety of our campus, and especially those in Alpine Village who continued to shelter as the event unfolded.
For students needing support during this time, counselors are available at the Cybersecurity building (3650 N. Nevada) from 12 to 6 p.m. today, and Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the UCCS Wellness Center. Buses will be running between campus and Cybersecurity center today from 12 to 6 p.m., with pickup from the Lodge and Village at Alpine Valley shuttle stops. Food services are available in the Lodge now through 2 p.m. and from 5-8 p.m.
The Wellness Center crisis walk-in hours are Monday – Friday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. You may also schedule an appointment by calling 719-255-4444.
Students can also access 24/7 free mental health support through TELUS Health. This service is available when campus is closed and on holidays.
For students who may need assistance seeking support, please contact the CARE Team. For faculty and staff needing support during this time, you can contact the Real Help Hotline at (833) 533-CHAT (2428) or reach out to the Colorado State Employee Assistance Program at (303) 866-4314 and let the live response know that you need immediate counseling. If they receive voicemail, they will choose option 2 for live immediate support. If employees are not identifying themselves as in crisis but would like to talk with someone soon, we can schedule an urgent appointment for them beginning today and through next week. If employees would like to touch base with a therapist within the next three weeks, they can schedule through our typical procedures – our web request form or by calling 303-866-4314.
We are the Mountain Lion family, and we are strong. Now is the time to lean on one another, to reach out to one another, to grieve, to borrow each other’s strength.
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