A gunman has killed six people during a birthday party at a trailer park in Colorado Springs on Mother’s Day and left kids horrified.
Police have reported that six people were shot dead and believe that the suspect was the boyfriend of one of the victims, Sandra Ibarra.
The gunman has not been officially identified, but goes thru the name “Junior”, walked into the party at a mobile home after midnight on Sunday then opened fire to the guests before taking his own life.
Authorities responded to the shooting at Canterbury Mobile Home Park and pronounced that six people were dead on the scene and a seventh person was gravely injured and died on the way to the hospital. Children who are present at the celebration were not harmed.
As of Monday morning, the six victims have been identified as Joana Cruz,53, and her two sons Melvin Perez, 30, and Jose Guttierez, 21, Perez’s wife, Mayra, 32, her sister Sandra Ibarra and brother Jose Ibarra.
The gunman, whom Sandra had been dating for less than a year was known for carrying a gun everywhere he went.
As of Monday afternoon, the Colorado Springs Police Department has not yet identified the details of the deceased shooter and his motive for executing this horrible massacre.
Yenifer Reyes, a resident of the mobile home neighborhood, said she was awakened by the sound of gunshots and sirens.
“I thought it was a thunderstorm, then I started hearing sirens,” Yenifer said.
She also witnessed the children being escorted by the police to a squad car.
“They were crying hysterically,” Yenifer told The Denver Post.
Freddie Marquez, 33, said his mother-in-law Joana Cruz, was one of the victims. He was at the party but left around 10:30 PM on Saturday, then around midnight, he received a call from the son of one of the women at the party, who was crying on the phone.
“Somebody came in and shot everybody,” Marquez said, relating to what he had been told on the phone.
Nubia Marques told The Gazette that as well as her mother, Joana Cruz, her brothers Melvin Perez and Jose Guttierez were also killed. The party was held in celebration of Cruz and Perez’s birthday.
“My mom had always liked celebrating them together,” Nubia said.
Also killed in the shooting were Perez’s wife, Mayra Perez, 32, and Mayra’s sister Sandra Ibarra and brother Jose Ibarra.
Freddy and Nubia described the shooter as Sandra Ibarra’s boyfriend, “Junior” who they said always carried a gun and was known to be “quiet” and “serious”. The couple said “everybody was calm” before they left the party.
The shooting shocked the entire neighborhood early Sunday morning. Officers arrived at a trailer park just after midnight to find six dead adults and a man with serious injuries who died later at a hospital. The children at the party have been escorted to their relatives.
Colorado Springs Police Chief Vince Niski said: “Words fall short to describe the tragedy that took place this morning.”
“This is something you hope never happens in your own community, in the place that you call home,” he added. “When these types of unspeakable acts happen, there is nothing that can be done to fully rebuild what was lost or replace those who are no longer with us.”
He promised that the department would do everything it can to “find you the answers you deserve and be here for you with unwavering support.”
Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers said: “Today we find ourselves mourning the loss of lives and praying solemnly for those who were injured and those who lost family members in a senseless act of violence on Sunday morning.”
“We think too of the emergency personnel who responded to a horrific scene and we keep them in our prayers today,” Suthers said. “We ask the public’s patience with the investigation and we seek the sensitivity of our media partners as CSPD completes a thorough investigation to provide answers to the families and friends impacted by this tragedy.”
Colorado Gov Jared Polis said: “The tragic shooting in Colorado Springs is devastating, especially as many of us are spending the day celebrating the women in our lives who have made us the people we are today.”
“Multiple lives were taken today by this terrible act of violence. Families are torn apart and at a birthday party no less,” Polis said. “My deepest condolences and prayers are with the victims, their families, and everyone else impacted by this tragedy.”