Denver, Colorado – A student faces charges of first-degree murder, felony menacing, and committing a crime of violence in connection with the shooting deaths of two individuals in a dorm room at a Colorado college. Nicholas Jordan, the accused, was formally charged during a court hearing by Judge David Shakes. The victims, Samuel Knopp, 24, and Celie Rain Montgomery, 26, were fatally shot in a dorm room at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs on February 16.
The specific details leading to the tragic incident have not been disclosed, but Judge Shakes has allowed the release of a basic court document outlining the evidence behind Jordan’s arrest. Despite objections from Jordan’s attorney, Nick Rogers, who expressed concerns about his client being “prosecuted in the media,” the document was made public. Rogers did not address the allegations against Jordan during the hearing and attempted unsuccessfully to secure Jordan’s release from jail without bail.
Jordan, a junior majoring in accounting, was arrested in a residential area of Colorado Springs, approximately 3 miles from the campus. Prosecutors revealed the discovery of a gun in Jordan’s car, along with a fully loaded AK-47. Jordan, who was in the process of withdrawing from the university, held a temporary job at the time.
Upon responding to shots fired at Crestone House, a dorm complex at the university offering apartment-style living, authorities discovered the bodies of Knopp and Montgomery. The campus experienced a brief 90-minute lockdown before limiting it to the dorm complex. Law enforcement indicated that the incident was likely isolated and involved individuals who were acquainted with each other, rather than posing a random threat to the community.
The tragic events have shaken the University of Colorado Colorado Springs community and highlighted the seriousness of violence on college campuses. The legal proceedings against Jordan signify a step towards justice as the community grapples with the loss of two individuals. The investigation into the circumstances leading up to the shooting continues as authorities seek to provide closure to the victims’ families and the broader campus community impacted by the incident.