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SATURDAY, JULY 4, 2009

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Colorado Church Gunman Killed Himself

(Newser Summary) – Though Colorado church gunman Matthew Murray was shot by a security guard, the wound that killed him was self-inflicted, reports the Los Angeles Times. Murray shot himself after he was wounded by the volunteer guard who opened fire when Murray burst into the church with three guns and 1,000 rounds of ammunition.

Murray killed a total of four people at the church and in an attack earlier that day at a missionary center. Violent online comments by Murray surfaced yesterday as autopsy results were released. "All you Christians made me this way. I'm just so full of hate now and I love it," wrote Murray under his web name "nghtmrchild26." He's believed to have posted the comments between attacks.
Source: Los Angeles Times

elsewhere: Jeanna Assam's troubled past Minneapolis Star Tribune • Online postings by gunman offered Feds warning of second attack International Herald Tribune

More about:  Colorado • Minneapolis • church shootings • shooting rampage • Matthew Murray • Jeanne Assam

Sgt. Jeff Jensen, right, of the Colorado Springs,...
Sgt. Jeff Jensen, right, of the Colorado Springs, Colo., Police Department homicide unit, responds to questions from reporters during a news conference on Monday, Dec. 10, 2007, in Colorado Springs about...   (Associated Press)
Church overseer Larry Stockstill leaves the bullet-riddled...
Church overseer Larry Stockstill leaves the bullet-riddled entryway of the New Life church in Colorado Springs, Monday, Dec. 10, 2007, where a day earlier a gunman entered the building. Two are dead in...   (Associated Press)
Jeanne Assam, left, the security guard who shot a...
Jeanne Assam, left, the security guard who shot a gunman as he terrorized worshipers at New Life Church on Sunday, leaves a news conference with Brady Boyd, senior pastor of the megachurch, after a news...   (Associated Press)
Jeff Jensen, an investigator with the homicide unit...
Jeff Jensen, an investigator with the homicide unit of the Colorado Springs, Colo., Police Department, uses an aerial photograph of the campus at New Life Church to talk about the Sunday shooting at the...   (Associated Press)
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FBI Warned on Colorado Shooter

Internet forum alerted feds after anti-Christian postings

Associated Press Associated Press Dec 12, 07 12:34 PM CST
(Newser Summary) - The FBI was alerted to Internet postings supposedly written by Colorado church shooter Matthew Murray between his two rampages, the AP reports. The operator of the forum for the Association of Former Pentecostals said a member contacted the FBI the day of the shootings after “nghtmrchild26,” thought to be Murray, made 11 posts saying he wanted to kill Christians. More »

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Colo. Shooter Had Ties to Church

Lone gunman ID'd as ex-mission worker who sent threatening letters

CNN CNN Dec 10, 07 2:44 PM CST
(Newser Summary) - A former mission worker was the shooter in both of yesterday’s Colorado church shootings, CNN reports. The killer, identified as Matthew Murray, worked with Youth With a Mission in Arvada, where the first shooting occurred. The Rocky Mountain News describes Murray as the 24-year-old son of a local neurosurgeon, and CBS 4 reports that his neighbors said Murray was a recluse. More »

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Colo. Church Gunman 'Hated Christians'

Was expelled from missionary school  where he killed 2

Associated Press Associated Press Dec 10, 07 8:15 PM CST
(Newser Summary) - The gunman at two Colorado church shootings yesterday had been expelled from the missionary school where killed two people, the AP reports. He also sent the school hate mail in recent weeks and may have "hated Christians," police said. The school admitted that it had kicked out the gunman, Michael Murray, a few years ago due to "issues with his health." More »

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Link Sought in Church Shootings

Another victim dead; police to search suburban house

CNN CNN Dec 10, 07 3:15 AM CST
(Newser Summary) - Investigators believe there may be a link between deadly shooting sprees yesterday at two Colorado religious sites—a megachurch in Colorado Springs and a Christian missionary center outside Denver. A second victim has died from wounds suffered at the New Light Church, where a guard killed the black-clad gunman who opened fire on worshipers, reports CNN. Two staffers were killed at the missionary center earlier by a man denied a bed for the night, police said. More »

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UPDATED

Gunman Dead in Church Attack

Suspect nabbed in Haggard church incident; no link yet

CNN CNN Dec 9, 07 7:14 PM CST
(Newser Summary) - The gunman who opened fire at a Colorado megachurch today killed one and wounded four before being fatally shot by a security guard, CNN reports. Police Chief Richard Myers called the guard at New Life Church "a courageous security staff member who probably saved many lives today." Some of the victims' injuries were life-threatening, Myers said. He added that "suspicious devices" were found on the church grounds. More »

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