Colorado Springs, Colorado – Friends, fellow students, and neighbors of the victims of the recent dormitory shooting were left in shock after the arrest of a suspect in connection with the murders of Samuel Knopp and Celie Rain Montgomery. The community of Colorado Springs was already reeling from recent tragedies, including the loss of another student just days before the shooting.
Knopp, 24, and Montgomery, 26, were found shot dead in a dormitory room at the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs, where Knopp was a senior studying music. The arrest of 25-year-old Nicholas Jordan, who was Knopp’s roommate at the time of the shooting, has brought some closure to the community. Jordan faces two counts of first-degree murder and is held on a $1 million bond at the El Paso County Jail.
The motive behind the shooting and the relationship between the victims and the suspect remain undisclosed. Montgomery, a mother of two young children from Pueblo, was not enrolled at the university.
Following the news of the violent deaths, the university cancelled classes and held a “healing walk” to support the grieving community. The recent loss of nursing student Mia Brown, who passed away after a medical emergency on campus, added to the somber atmosphere on campus.
Knopp, described as an accomplished guitar player and musician, was beloved by many in the community. His passion for music resonated with those who knew him, and the loss of such a promising young talent has left a void in the lives of many.
The tragic events at the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs have reopened wounds left by past gun violence in the area, including a shooting at an LGBTQ+ nightclub 15 months ago. The community continues to grapple with the senseless loss of innocent lives to gun violence, and the healing process will be ongoing for those affected by these tragic events.