Colorado has recently seen a rise in violent crimes. The instances range from fatal accidents, senseless acts carried out in anger, and victims doing what they must to survive. Stabbings and shootings have both been seen as recently as over the past holiday weekend. In all of this violence there have been many victims who were fatally wounded. One of the biggest questions: what is causing this surge in violence?
Woman Stabs Home Invader
Police with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office said the incident happened at a home in the 10400 block of Ammons Street in Westminster on Monday. According to a police statement, the male victim was a “home invader” who broke into the property. He engaged in a “physical altercation” with one woman living in the house. In a statement, the sheriff’s office said, “upon arrival, deputies discovered one deceased adult male inside the residence. According to a female witness who lives at the residence, the male forced entry into the home and was stabbed by another female resident during a physical altercation between the male and witnesses.” Deputies said the man was known to the residents. The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office says they are investigating the death thoroughly.
Man Stabs Denver Rescue Mission Staff Member
Denver police a staff member at the Denver Rescue Mission was stabbed and killed this past Saturday night. Police responded to the area near 48th Avenue and Dahlia Street outside of the men’s shelter at 4:45 p.m.. The victim is only described as a 30-year-old man. The victim was taken to the hospital where he later died. Witnesses who also work at the facility told police the victim was stabbed in the area of his ribs. Police say they arrested a man, identified as Christopher Christian, who now faces a charge of first degree murder. Witnesses told police Christian was asked to leave the facility the night before due to a physical fight with another resident, and not return for 30 days. The stabbing victim was not involved in that decision or the fight.
These instances are not the only stabbings colorado has seen this year. In october a group of 5 male teens stabbed an uber driver when he couldn’t fit them all in his vehicle safely. Those young men were never found. Then, back in January, a man stabbed 8 people in Colorado Springs before he was detained. According to Statista, 1,739 people in the U.S. were murdered by people who used knives or other cutting instruments to carry out the killing in 2020. It was the third most common way a victim was murdered in the United States, behind unstated firearms at 4,863 and handguns at 8,029. Colorado is no stranger to gun violence.
Five Injured in Aurora Shooting
According to Fox News, five people were being treated at a hospital overnight after a shooting in Aurora, Colorado, according to authorities. All five victims were expected to survive, police wrote on Twitter. The shooting was “possibly connected to a large party,” a police post read. No arrests were immediately reported. It was unclear how many suspects were linked to the case, police wrote in a Twitter message.The shooting occurred in the area of East Colfax Avenue and Dayton Street, according to police. A heavy police presence was in the area, the department wrote.
Denver Woman Shoots Jefferson County Man
A Denver woman was arrested Sunday after a man was found fatally shot inside of a camper in Jefferson County, according to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies responded to gunshots just before 1 a.m. in the 11000 block of Cochise Circle in Conifer. The victim was dead when deputies arrived. The suspect in the shooting, 36-year-old Sarah Kalan, fled but was quickly found and taken into custody. Deputies have not released the identity of the victim or any information about how Kalan is connected to him. According to public records, Kalan was arrested and charged with attempted first-degree murder in 2006 in El Paso County, a charge which was later dropped for second-degree assault with a deadly weapon. Records indicate she was sentenced to six years in prison in that case.
6 Teens Injured in Aurora Shooting
Six teenagers were wounded a week and a half ago in a shooting near a high school in Colorado, authorities said. Aurora police said there are likely multiple suspects responsible for the shooting, all of whom remain on the loose. The shooting occurred in Nome Park, across from Aurora Central High School, just before 1:00 p.m. Five students between the ages of 14 and 17 were found wounded at the scene, and an additional 18-year-old student self-transported to the hospital with “minor” injuries. Aurora Police Chief Vanessa Wilson said initial evidence suggests that some suspects may have been on foot, while others were in a vehicle. She said there were multiple shell casings of different calibers at the scene. “When I got the call, my heart dropped,” Wilson said at a press conference on Monday afternoon. Wilson said she believes first responders “saved a life.” In a statement late Monday night, police said first responders applied tourniquets to two of the victims to stem their bleeding.
Man Shot Outside of Colorado Springs 7/11
One person was injured in a shooting near the Olympic Training Center early this morning (Tuesday). Police were called to the area of North Union and Willamette just before 12:30 a.m. on reports of a shooting and found a single victim at the scene. The man’s injuries were serious but reportedly not life-threatening. Officers didn’t confirm the exact location, but an employee at the 7-Eleven on the corner of Union and Willamette tells 11 News the shooting occurred outside the store.
These are just a few incidents out of many. These don’t include the incidents which the media never reports, or that never get reported in the first place. Why is violence seemingly on the rise in Colorado? Will these numbers continue to rise? What causes people to become so violent? Could this surge in violence be linked to a surge in drug use, which is seen not only in Colorado but across the U.S.?
Written by: Erinn Malloy
