Heavily armed man killed himself rather than carry out apparent plan to shoot up Colorado amusement park, police say
A man who was heavily armed with guns and explosives killed himself in his car rather than carry out an apparent plan to shoot up a Colorado amusement park, police said on Monday.
The man, identified as 32-year-old James Smith, was found dead in his vehicle outside the entrance of Elitch Gardens Theme and Water Park in Denver on Sunday afternoon, according to Denver Police Chief Paul Pazen.
Pazen said Smith had multiple firearms, including an AR-15 rifle, a shotgun and a handgun, as well as several improvised explosive devices and a large amount of ammunition in his car. He also had a note that indicated he intended to harm people at the park, but did not specify a motive or a target.
Pazen said Smith had no criminal history or known ties to any extremist groups, and that investigators were still trying to determine what led him to plan the attack. He said Smith had purchased the weapons and explosives legally in the past few months.
Pazen praised the park security staff and the police officers who responded to the scene and prevented a potential mass shooting. He said the security staff noticed Smith acting suspiciously in his car and alerted the police, who arrived within minutes and tried to contact him. However, Smith refused to cooperate and shot himself in the head before they could approach him.
Pazen said no one else was injured or threatened by Smith, and that the park was evacuated as a precaution while the bomb squad cleared his car of explosives. He said the park reopened on Monday after being deemed safe by the authorities.
Pazen said the incident was a reminder of the need for vigilance and cooperation among the public and law enforcement to prevent such tragedies. He urged anyone who sees something suspicious or knows someone who may be planning violence to report it to the police or call 911.
"We are very fortunate that this did not turn into a horrific event," Pazen said at a press conference. "We are very thankful for the quick actions of our security staff, our officers and our community members who helped us avoid what could have been a very different outcome."
Conclusion
The article summarizes the incident that occurred on Sunday, October 29, 2023, when a heavily armed man killed himself in his car outside the entrance of Elitch Gardens Theme and Water Park in Denver, Colorado. The man, identified as James Smith, had multiple firearms, explosives, ammunition and a note that indicated he planned to shoot up the park. However, he was spotted by the park security staff, who alerted the police. The police arrived within minutes and tried to contact him, but he refused to cooperate and shot himself in the head.
No one else was injured or threatened by Smith, and the park was evacuated and cleared of explosives. The park reopened on Monday after being deemed safe by the authorities. The police said Smith had no criminal history or known ties to any extremist groups, and that they were still investigating his motive. The police chief praised the security staff, the officers and the community members who helped prevent a potential mass shooting. He also urged anyone who sees something suspicious or knows someone who may be planning violence to report it to the police or call 911.