2007 Colorado YWAM and New Life shootings

Mass shooting other shootings in Colorado Springs Colorado Springs shootings (disambiguation)Colorado Springs shooting Matthew J. Murray other people Matthew Murray (disambiguation) December 2025 April 2016 2007 Colorado YWAM and New Life shootings Arvada and Colorado Springs, Colorado, U.S. Youth With a Mission center and New Life Church 2007 12 9 12:30 a.m.Associated Press http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,316244,00.html Three Dead (including perpetrator), Two Wounded, After Gunman Opens Fire Inside Colorado Christian Missionary Center December 9, 2007 December 9, 2007 Fox News https://web.archive.org/web/20110208102023/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,316244,00.html February 8, 2011 live mdy-all c. 1:00 p.m.http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/12/09/church.shooting/ Gunman opens fire at church; one suspect in custody December 9, 2007 December 9, 2007 CNN https://web.archive.org/web/20090701020539/http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/12/09/church.shooting/ July 1, 2009 live mdy Spree shooting, hate crime, anti-Christian violence, mass murder, murder-suicide, mass shooting 5 (including the perpetrator) 5 Matthew John Murray YWAM: Springfield Armory 9mm semi-automatic pistolhttps://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/09/us/09cnd-shoot.html Gunman Kills 2 at Missionary Center Near Denver December 9, 2007 December 9, 2007 The New York Times John Holusha https://web.archive.org/web/20150903193131/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/09/us/09cnd-shoot.html?hp September 3, 2015 liveNew Life: Bushmaster XM-15 rifle (Chambered to 6.8mm Remington SPC) .40 caliber Beretta Px4 handgun Springfield Armory handgun 22lr Beretta U22 handgun (unused; left at home)http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/14839707/detail.html Ammo Shipped To P.O. Box Put Murray On Police Radar December 12, 2007 December 12, 2007 ABC 7 News: The Denver Channel https://web.archive.org/web/20110606135544/http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/14839707/detail.html June 6, 2011 dead mdy New Life: Jeanne Assam (Former police officer/church member providing security)http://www.denverpost.com/ci_7682958 Colo. church shooting victims identified December 10, 2007 December 10, 2007 The Denver Post Tom McGhee https://web.archive.org/web/20110524064722/http://www.denverpost.com/ci_7682958 May 24, 2011 live mdy http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/CHURCH_SHOOTINGS?SITE=TXBEA&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2007-12-09-23-11-41: 4 die in Colo. church, mission attacks December 9, 2007 December 9, 2007 Associated Press https://web.archive.org/web/20071214043017/http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/CHURCH_SHOOTINGS?SITE=TXBEA&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2007-12-09-23-11-41%3A December 14, 2007 dead Anti-Christian sentiment In the early hours of December 9, 2007, 24-year-old Matthew John Murray opened fire at the Youth With A Mission training center in Arvada, Colorado, killing two and wounding two others before escaping. Later that afternoon, he attacked the New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado, with a number of firearms, killing two more people and injuring three before being shot by Jeanne Assam, a member of the church's safety team. Murray then committed suicide by shooting himself in the head. Shootings Arvada missionary shooting Around 12:30 a.m. MST (07:30 UTC), following a Christmas banquet that had taken place earlier that night, 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.http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/12/09/colorado.shooting/index.html Gunman kills 2 at missionary training center December 9, 2007 December 9, 2007 CNN https://web.archive.org/web/20090905001305/http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/12/09/colorado.shooting/index.html September 5, 2009 live 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 an active shooter might be in their area. New Life Church shooting conflicts with lead section regarding manner of suspect's death (killed by security guard vs. suicide) September 2021 At around 1:00 p.m. MST, Murray opened fire in the New Life Church parking lot with a Bushmaster XM-15 rifle, shooting at the Works family as they entered their vehicle. He killed 18-year-old Stephanie Works and 16-year-old Rachel Works before critically wounding their father, David Works, by shooting him multiple times.2007-12-10 Colo. shooter identified as 24-year-old male https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna22174890 2026-05-01 NBC News en 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 within the church parking lot, including narrowly missing church patron Christina Wilke after striking her vehicle with bullets from his semi-automatic rifle, missing Wilke 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.https://www.kktv.com/home/headlines/12440361.html 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 www.kktv.com english 2019-12-07 December 7, 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20191207004713/https://www.kktv.com/home/headlines/12440361.html 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 92FS 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 the active shooter. Murray then fatally shot himself in the head with the same handgun he used in the 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. https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7140409.stm BBC NEWS | Americas | US church gunman killed himself December 12, 2007 November 7, 2010 November 13, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20121113032638/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7140409.stm live Aftermath 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.http://www.koaa.com/aaaa_more_local_news/x911469723 Victims at New Life identified December 9, 2007 December 9, 2007 KOAA-TV https://web.archive.org/web/20071229054804/http://www.koaa.com/aaaa_more_local_news/x911469723 December 29, 2007 dead mdy-all Security upgrade saves churchgoers http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Top_News/2007/12/10/security_upgrade_saves_churchgoers/8697/ UPI December 10, 2007 December 10, 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20080706160528/http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Top_News/2007/12/10/security_upgrade_saves_churchgoers/8697/ July 6, 2008 dead mdy-allHendrick, Thomas Security Guard: 'God Guided Me And Protected Me' http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/14817480/detail.html TheDenverChannel.com December 10, 2007 December 10, 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20090414071346/http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/14817480/detail.html April 14, 2009 dead mdy-all On December 13, 2007, Murray's family issued a statement saying that it was "groping for answers" and issued an apology.http://au.christiantoday.com/article/gunman-committed-suicide-as-family-apologises-for-shooting/3555.htm Gunman committed suicide as family apologises for shooting Au.christiantoday.com December 13, 2007 November 7, 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20110708152105/http://au.christiantoday.com/article/gunman-committed-suicide-as-family-apologises-for-shooting/3555.htm July 8, 2011 live mdy The pastor of the church stated that Assam shot Murray before he entered 50 ft inside the building, after she encountered him in the hallway, and that Assam probably saved "over 100 lives."Police: Same Gunman Attacked Both Churches http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/14810359/detail.html KMGH Denver December 10, 2007 December 10, 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20110827094441/http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/14810359/detail.html August 27, 2011 dead 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, 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.Two US Christian centres attacked. BBC.com. December 10, 2007. Victims Name Age Location StatusTiffany Johnson 26 Youth With a Mission center killedPhilip Crouse 24 Youth With a Mission center killedDan Griebenow 24 Youth With a Mission center woundedCharlie Blanch 22 Youth With a Mission center woundedStephanie Works 18 New Life Church killedRachel Works 16 New Life Church killedDavid Works 51 New Life Church woundedJudy Purcell 40 New Life Church woundedLarry Bourbonnais 59 New Life Church wounded Perpetrator Matthew John Murray, a 24-year-old resident of Englewood, Colorado, was identified as the perpetrator of both shootings. Born On December 5, 1983 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Ronald and Loretta Murray,Vander Veen Robert J. Supplemental Report Arvada Police Department https://vpc.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/New-Life-Church-Shooting-Arvada-Police-Department-Supplemental-Report.pdf 19 July 2024 VPC.org 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.'Colorado gunman scared co-workers 5 years ago, one says' CNN http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/12/10/shooter.youth/ December 11, 2007 December 11, 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20090619222610/http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/12/10/shooter.youth/ June 19, 2009 live mdy Gathright Alan A gunman's bloody trail: from hate mail to mass murder Rocky Mountain News December 10, 2007 http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2007/dec/10/cops-search-arapahoe-home/ December 11, 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20101031130034/http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2007/dec/10/cops-search-arapahoe-home/ October 31, 2010 live 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. Kohler, Judith Gunman in religious attacks had been thrown out of missionary school: police Associated Press http://www.570news.com/news/international/article.jsp?content=w1210102A December 10, 2007 December 11, 2007 October 2010 H3llBot Merritt, George Gunman may have warned of 2nd attack Associated Press https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071211/ap_on_re_us/church_shootings December 11, 2007 December 11, 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20071213230455/http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071211/ap_on_re_us/church_shootings 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."Blog Religion News 2007-12-11 Colorado gunman sent hate mail to YWAM missionary center https://www.religionnewsblog.com/20096/ywam-2 2025-04-08 Religion News Blog 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, adding to it "especially Christians who are to blame for most of the problems in the world."Colorado Church Gunman Sought Revenge After He Was Kicked Out of Missionary Training. FoxNews.com. December 11, 2007. Larkin, R. W. (2007). Comprehending Columbine. Ukraine: Temple University Press. p. 159-160Hasday, J. L. (2013). Forty-Nine Minutes of Madness: The Columbine High School Shooting. United Kingdom: Enslow Publishers. p. 15 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. http://www.thenation.com/doc/20090921/blumenthal dead https://web.archive.org/web/20090911181653/http://www.thenation.com/doc/20090921/blumenthal 2009-09-11 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.https://www.denverpost.com/2008/03/27/murray-obsesses-with-guns-shootings/ Murray obsesses with guns, shootings Post Howard Pankratz The Denver 2008-03-27 The Denver Post en-US 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. "Your Colombine". The Denver Post. December 12, 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20110524035957/http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_7696043 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. "Colorado Gunman Left Twisted Trail". Associated Press. December 12, 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20071215134303/http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5japE3NYsSAjhnemSFfykd2W3JawwD8TG6K4O0 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.Dallof, Sarah 'Colorado shooter was baptized into LDS faith' KSL News http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=2321651 December 12, 2007 December 13, 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20110604164309/http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=2321651 June 4, 2011 live Murray was diagnosed with ADHD at the age of four or five, and he had begun taking Ritalin at age five.2008-02-28 Shooter who killed 4 had ADHD, parents say https://www.deseret.com/2008/2/28/20073372/shooter-who-killed-4-had-adhd-parents-say/ 2025-04-28 Deseret News 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.Church shooter left letter 'To God' in car The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_7991187 January 17, 2008 January 18, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20110524044312/http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_7991187 May 24, 2011 live mdy Murray was buried during a private funeral service for close friends and family soon after the shooting.https://www.denverpost.com/2007/12/12/text-of-statement-by-parents-of-gunman-matthew-murray/ Text of statement by parents of gunman Matthew Murray Associated Press 2007-12-12 The Denver Post en-US 2019-12-07 See also Crime United States Colorado Anti-Christian sentiment References External links New Life Church yes Max Blumenthal, The Nightmare of Christianity The Nation (September 9, 2009) 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:2000s mass murders in the United States Category:Murder–suicides in Colorado Category:2000s in Colorado Springs, Colorado Category:2007 mass murders Category:Attacks on buildings and structures in 2007 Category:December 2007 crimes in the United States Category:Mass shootings in Colorado Category:Mass murders 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 Category:Attacks on churches in the 2000s Category:Mass shootings involving semi-automatic pistols in the United States Category:Mass shootings in religious buildings and structures