2007 Colorado YWAM and New Life shootings

Around 12:30 a.m. MST (07:30 UTC), following a Christmas banquet that had taken place earlier that night, Matthew Murray knocked on the door of the Youth With A Mission facility. Murray asked personnel in the youth center if he could stay overnight; when he was refused, Murray opened fire with a 9mm handgun, killing Tiffany Johnson, the center's Director of Hospitality, and staff member Philip Crouse, as well as wounding Dan Griebenow in the neck and Charlie Blanch in the leg.

After the incident, the YWAM base evacuated its 80 people to the mountain campus in Black Hawk, 45 of whom were in the building at the time of the shooting.{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/12/09/colorado.shooting/index.html |title=Gunman kills 2 at missionary training center |date=December 9, 2007 |access-date=December 9, 2007 |publisher=CNN |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090905001305/http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/12/09/colorado.shooting/index.html |archive-date=September 5, 2009 |url-status=live |df=mdy }} Local police quickly conducted a canine search of the surrounding area, searching for the shooter; they hoped that fresh snow would help them track the suspect, but were unable to locate him. A reverse 911 call went out to residents of the neighborhood to let them know a shooting suspect might be in their area.

{{Confusing section|conflicts with lead section regarding manner of suspect's death (killed by security guard vs. suicide)|date=September 2021}}

At about 1:00 p.m. MST (20:00 UTC), Murray opened fire in the church parking lot with a Bushmaster XM-15 rifle, shooting at the Works family as they entered their vehicle. He killed Stephanie Works, 18, and Rachel Works, 16, and critically wounded their father, David Works, by shooting him multiple times.

Church member and bystander Judy Purcell was wounded in the shoulder when attempting to enter her vehicle; she survived her injuries. Murray directed gunfire towards other vehicles during his shooting spree within the New Life Church parking lot, including narrowly missing church patron Christina Wilke after riddling her vehicle with a volley of bullets from his semi-automatic rifle, missing Wilke with his gunfire by approximately four inches. Murray then entered the building's main foyer where he wounded Larry Bourbonnais, as Bourbonnais was attempting to yell at Murray to distract Murray from hurting others. Bourbonnais was lightly wounded in the forearm with shrapnel.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kktv.com/home/headlines/12440361.html|title=New Life Shooter Matthew Murray Was Heavily Armed. Murray had over 3,000 rounds of ammunition; close to 2,000 rounds on him in a backpack in fully loaded magazines with an additional 1,000 rounds in the trunk of his vehicle along with an AK-47 assault rifle.KKTV|website=www.kktv.com|language=english|access-date=2019-12-07|archive-date=December 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191207004713/https://www.kktv.com/home/headlines/12440361.html|url-status=dead}}

At this point, church member Jeanne Assam, a New Life Church security volunteer, who was herself a former Minneapolis Police Department law enforcement officer, opened fire upon Murray. Assam shot Murray 10 times, striking him in both the femoral and carotid arteries using her Beretta 92 FS 9mm handgun. The incident was fully witnessed by Larry Bourbonnais, who later repeatedly conveyed to national news interests that, "It was the bravest thing I've ever seen." Assam later publicly acknowledged that she had asked God to be with her as she took on this active shooter. Murray then fatally shot himself in the head with the same handgun he used in the earlier YWAM shooting. He fired a total of 42 rounds during the entire shooting spree; 15 at YWAM and 27 at New Life Church, including the self-inflicted shot.Police reported there were at least 7,000 people at the church at the time of the shooting. {{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7140409.stm |title=BBC NEWS | Americas | US church gunman killed himself |date=December 12, 2007 |access-date=November 7, 2010 |archive-date=November 13, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121113032638/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7140409.stm |url-status=live }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.kktv.com/home/headlines/12440361.html|title=New Life Shooter Matthew Murray Was Heavily Armed. Murray had over 3,000 rounds of ammunition; close to 2,000 rounds on him in a backpack in fully loaded magazines with an additional 1,000 rounds in the trunk of his vehicle along with an AK-47 assault rifle.KKTV|website=www.kktv.com|language=english|access-date=2019-12-07|archive-date=December 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191207004713/https://www.kktv.com/home/headlines/12440361.html|url-status=dead}}

After the New Life Church shooting, Assam later stated that "God guided me and protected me [and I] did not think for a minute to run away" when a reporter asked her if she had.{{cite web |url=http://www.koaa.com/aaaa_more_local_news/x911469723 |title=Victims at New Life identified |date=December 9, 2007 |access-date=December 9, 2007 |publisher=KOAA-TV |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071229054804/http://www.koaa.com/aaaa_more_local_news/x911469723 |archive-date=December 29, 2007 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}

{{cite news

|title = Security upgrade saves churchgoers

|url = http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Top_News/2007/12/10/security_upgrade_saves_churchgoers/8697/

|publisher = UPI

|date = December 10, 2007

|access-date = December 10, 2007

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080706160528/http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Top_News/2007/12/10/security_upgrade_saves_churchgoers/8697/

|archive-date = July 6, 2008

|url-status = dead

|df = mdy-all

}}{{cite news |author=Hendrick, Thomas |title=Security Guard: 'God Guided Me And Protected Me' |url=http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/14817480/detail.html |publisher=TheDenverChannel.com |date=December 10, 2007 |access-date=December 10, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090414071346/http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/14817480/detail.html |archive-date=April 14, 2009 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}

On December 13, 2007, Murray's family issued a statement saying that it was "groping for answers" and issued an apology.{{cite web|url=http://au.christiantoday.com/article/gunman-committed-suicide-as-family-apologises-for-shooting/3555.htm |title=Gunman committed suicide as family apologises for shooting |publisher=Au.christiantoday.com |date=December 13, 2007 |access-date=November 7, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708152105/http://au.christiantoday.com/article/gunman-committed-suicide-as-family-apologises-for-shooting/3555.htm |archive-date=July 8, 2011 |url-status=live |df=mdy }}

The pastor of the church stated that Assam shot Murray before he entered {{convert|50|ft}} inside the building, after she encountered him in the hallway, and that Assam probably saved "over 100 lives."{{cite news |title=Police: Same Gunman Attacked Both Churches |url=http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/14810359/detail.html |publisher=KMGH Denver |date=December 10, 2007 |access-date=December 10, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110827094441/http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/14810359/detail.html |archive-date=August 27, 2011 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}

Following the shooting spree, Colorado Springs Police Department officers searched the church campus looking for suspicious devices. Colorado governor Bill Ritter ordered state authorities to help investigate. The FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives also came to the site to assist.

It was not immediately known whether the shootings were related to an earlier Arvada missionary shooting, {{convert|70|mi}} away. Prior to the second shooting, police were already conducting an investigation at Murray's home.

Police said the description of the gunman in the second shooting was similar to the first: a white male wearing a dark hat and dark jacket.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7135729.stm Two US Christian centres attacked]. BBC.com. December 10, 2007. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071212122154/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7135729.stm |date=December 12, 2007 }}

Matthew John Murray, a 24-year-old resident of Englewood, Colorado, was identified as the perpetrator of both shootings. Born in Salt Lake City, Utah to Ronald and Loretta Murray,{{cite news |last1=Vander Veen |first1=Robert J. |title=Supplemental Report {{!}} Arvada Police Department |url=https://vpc.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/New-Life-Church-Shooting-Arvada-Police-Department-Supplemental-Report.pdf |access-date=19 July 2024 |agency=VPC.org |date=28 February 2008}} Murray was homeschooled in a deeply religious Christian household after the 1st grade, and he attended, but did not complete, a missionary training program at the YWAM Arvada facility 2002. He was expelled from the school due to "strange behavior," which included playing perceived-frightening rock music and him claiming to hear voices.{{cite news|title='Colorado gunman scared co-workers 5 years ago, one says' |publisher=CNN |url=http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/12/10/shooter.youth/ |date=December 11, 2007 |access-date=December 11, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090619222610/http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/12/10/shooter.youth/ |archive-date=June 19, 2009 |url-status=live |df=mdy }}{{cite news|last=Gathright |first=Alan |title=A gunman's bloody trail: from hate mail to mass murder |publisher=Rocky Mountain News |date=December 10, 2007 |url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2007/dec/10/cops-search-arapahoe-home/ |access-date=December 11, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101031130034/http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2007/dec/10/cops-search-arapahoe-home/ |archive-date=October 31, 2010 |url-status=live |df=mdy }}

Court records indicated that Murray was bitter over his expulsion from the 12-week missionary training program, as he was consequently banned from attending a field trip to Bosnia.{{cite news| author = Kohler, Judith| title = Gunman in religious attacks had been thrown out of missionary school: police| agency = Associated Press| url = http://www.570news.com/news/international/article.jsp?content=w1210102A| date = December 10, 2007| access-date = December 11, 2007}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}{{cite news| author = Merritt, George| title = Gunman may have warned of 2nd attack| agency = Associated Press| url = https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071211/ap_on_re_us/church_shootings| date = December 11, 2007| access-date = December 11, 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071213230455/http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071211/ap_on_re_us/church_shootings|archive-date = December 13, 2007}} His expulsion from the school was confirmed by Cheryl Morrison, whose husband, George Morrison, is pastor of the Faith Bible Chapel adjacent to YWAM Denver. She didn't know specifics of the conflict. "I don't think that 'run-in' is the word, but they did have to dismiss him. It had to be something of significance, because they go the nth degree with people."{{Cite web |last=Blog |first=Religion News |date=2007-12-11 |title=Colorado gunman sent hate mail to YWAM missionary center |url=https://www.religionnewsblog.com/20096/ywam-2 |access-date=2025-04-08 |website=Religion News Blog |language=en-US}}

Before the second shooting, Murray left several violent and threatening messages on several religious websites, espousing his hatred for fundamental Christianity and his intentions on killing as many Christians as possible. One message quoted Eric Harris, one of the perpetrators of the Columbine High School massacre; it read: "I'm coming for EVERYONE soon and I WILL be armed to the ...teeth and I WILL shoot to kill. ...God, I can't wait till I can kill you people. Feel no remorse, no sense of shame, I don't care if I live or die in the shoot-out. All I want to do is kill and injure as many of you ... as I can especially Christians who are to blame for most of the problems in the world."Woodward, Paula, Jace Larson and Nicole Vap. [http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=82548 Gunman's Web writings warn of shootings]. 9News.com. December 10, 2007. {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130116120725/http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=82548 |date=January 16, 2013 }}[https://www.foxnews.com/story/colorado-church-gunman-sought-revenge-after-he-was-kicked-out-of-missionary-training Colorado Church Gunman Sought Revenge After He Was Kicked Out of Missionary Training]. FoxNews.com. December 11, 2007. [https://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,316387,00.html] In his online postings, Murray alleges psychological abuse at the hands of his parents and church leaders as the main reason for his hatred of Christianity.{{cite web| url = http://www.thenation.com/doc/20090921/blumenthal| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090911181653/http://www.thenation.com/doc/20090921/blumenthal| archive-date = 2009-09-11| title = The Nightmare of Christianity}}

Murray was obsessed with several school shootings and mass shootings. Additionally, hundreds of images of pornography and child pornography were found on his computer by investigators. Before the shooting at New Life, Murray called a family member and confessed to his obsession with mass shootings.

In the months before the shootings, Murray acquired several weapons: an AK-47 semi-automatic variant, a Beretta .22-caliber handgun, a Beretta .40-caliber handgun, a Springfield Armory 9mm handgun, and a Bushmaster XM-15 .223-caliber rifle, which he had modified to fire a larger caliber round. He was found to have had over 3,000 rounds of ammunition at New Life and had over 1,000 more at his home in Englewood.{{Cite web|url=https://www.denverpost.com/2008/03/27/murray-obsesses-with-guns-shootings/|title=Murray obsesses with guns, shootings|last=Post|first=Howard Pankratz {{!}} The Denver|date=2008-03-27|website=The Denver Post|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-07}}

In another of his very last posts, made that morning to a Usenet newsgroup,Meyer, Jeremy P., David Migoya and Christopher N. Osher. [http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_7696043 "Your Colombine"]. The Denver Post. December 12, 2007. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524035957/http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_7696043 |date=May 24, 2011 }} he identified himself as being a member of a local branch of Ordo Templi Orientis. According to the chapter leader, Murray had attended their events for one or two years, but his request for membership was turned downGorski, Eric. [http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5japE3NYsSAjhnemSFfykd2W3JawwD8TG6K4O0 "Colorado Gunman Left Twisted Trail"]. Associated Press. December 12, 2007. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071215134303/http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5japE3NYsSAjhnemSFfykd2W3JawwD8TG6K4O0 |date=December 15, 2007 }} and he was asked to leave in either September or October.

Murray was involved in several religious organizations in the Denver area, including: His Love Fellowship Church, Prince of Peace Church of the Brethren, Trinity Christian, Ordo Templi Orientis, and the New Life Church. He was also baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) in late 2006, according to the church's records.{{cite web|author=Dallof, Sarah |title='Colorado shooter was baptized into LDS faith' |publisher=KSL News |url=http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=2321651 |date=December 12, 2007 |access-date=December 13, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604164309/http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=2321651 |archive-date=June 4, 2011 |url-status=live }}

Murray was diagnosed with ADHD at the age of four or five, and he had begun taking Ridalin at age five.{{Cite web |date=2008-02-28 |title=Shooter who killed 4 had ADHD, parents say |url=https://www.deseret.com/2008/2/28/20073372/shooter-who-killed-4-had-adhd-parents-say/ |access-date=2025-04-28 |website=Deseret News |language=en}} According to investigators, he descended into extreme anti-Christian psychosis over a period of several months, and his web-postings became increasingly violent, despondent and hateful. Some of the users tried to counsel Murray. After the killing, police found a letter addressed "To God," by Murray, in his car, which was later obtained by Newsradio 850 KOA. The letter was found along with two books: I Had to Say Something by Mike Jones and Serial Murderers and Their Victims by Eric W. Hickey, according to the invoice.{{cite news|title=Church shooter left letter 'To God' in car |work=The Denver Post |url=http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_7991187 |date=January 17, 2008 |access-date=January 18, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524044312/http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_7991187 |archive-date=May 24, 2011 |url-status=live |df=mdy }}

Murray was buried during a private funeral service for close friends and family soon after the shooting.{{Cite web|url=https://www.denverpost.com/2007/12/12/text-of-statement-by-parents-of-gunman-matthew-murray/|title=Text of statement by parents of gunman Matthew Murray|agency=Associated Press|date=2007-12-12|website=The Denver Post|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-07}}

{{portal|Crime|United States|Colorado}}

• Anti-Christian sentiment

{{reflist}}

{{sister project links|New Life Church|auto=yes}}

• Max Blumenthal, [https://archive.today/20130105034958/http://www.thenation.com/doc/20090921/blumenthal The Nightmare of Christianity] The Nation (September 9, 2009)

{{Mass shootings in the United States in the 2000s}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Colorado Ywam And New Life Shootings, 2007}}

Category:2007 murders in the United States

Category:2007 in Colorado

Category:Attacks on buildings and structures in Colorado

Category:Church shootings in the United States

Category:Arvada, Colorado

Category:Deaths by firearm in Colorado

Category:Spree shootings in the United States

Category:2007 mass shootings in the United States

Category:Mass murder in the United States in the 2000s

Category:Murder–suicides in Colorado

Category:2000s in Colorado Springs, Colorado

Category:Mass murder in 2007

Category:Attacks on buildings and structures in 2007

Category:December 2007 crimes in the United States

Category:Mass shootings in Colorado

Category:Mass murder in Colorado

Category:Columbine High School massacre copycat crimes

Category:Mass shootings involving AR-15–style rifles

Category:Anti-Christian sentiment in the United States