Victims Identified In Colorado Springs Mass Shooting At Birthday Party
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (CBS4) - Colorado Springs Police officials shared an update to the mass shooting at a birthday party early on Mother's Day. They released the names of the six victims:
- Joana Cruz, 52
- Jose Gutierrez, 21
- Jose Ibarra, 26
- Sandra Ibarra-Perez, 28
- Mayra Ibarra de Perez, 33
- Melvin Perez, 30
The victims were part of two families.
The suspected gunman, Teodoro Macias, 28, took his own life in the shooting. Investigators say the suspect was the boyfriend of one of the victims, Sandra Ibarra, and was not invited to the party.
"All these people were together. He apparently had anger directed at the adults and his partner, and the tragic consequences are unfathomable. We've got children orphaned by this situation and we've got incredible number of families impacted and that in turn impacts the community," said Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers.
Police officials say this is a domestic violence-related event. They add the suspect made efforts to try and keep Sandra from attending the party or other family events.
"At the core of this horrendous act is domestic violence," Colorado Springs Police Department Chief Vince Niski said Tuesday. "The suspect, who was in a relationship with one of the victims, displayed power and control issues in this relationship. When he wasn't invited to a family gathering, the suspect responded by opening fire and killing six victims before taking his own life."
Investigators say the suspect does not have a criminal history, and there were no reported incidents of domestic violence or protection orders between the suspect and victim.
They say he used a semi-automatic handgun.
According to investigators, the suspect was not the original owner of the gun, and the gun was purchased from a dealer years ago. They add the serial number on the gun was not reported stolen.
The shooting happened in the early morning hours of May 9 at the Canterbury Manufactured Home Community on Preakness Way. Chief Vince Niski says this is the deadliest shooting in the city's history.
He cited a 1911 incident when six people were murdered by axe.
The suspect allegedly drove to the home, walked inside and started shooting people. One of the bullets, investigators say, went into a neighbor's home, but no one was hurt.
Children inside the home were not hurt and are now with relatives.
Investigators say some of the children witnessed the shooting. Family members tell CBS4 most of the children were in another room sleeping at the time.
"When we think about domestic violence we think about the black eyes and the bruises, but there are so many other ways that an abuser can maintain control in these relationships. There are numerous ways that don't show up and aren't necessarily reflected in physical harm that indicate an abusive situation," said Tamika Mathews, a Community Impact Manager for Violence Free Colorado.
"It's not uncommon for a person who is using abusive behavior to expand those activities toward other people in these survivor circles, it could be friends it could be family, it could be pets, where the objective ostensibly is to maintain power and control over a survivor," she said.
Gladis Bustos, a neighbor, told CBS4 she considered one of the victims to be a friend and enjoyed talking with her often.
"She was a really sweet person, really kind, always smiling," Bustos said.
People experiencing relationship violence can seek help from Violence Free Colorado.
A woman who knew many of the victims set up an online fundraiser to help with funeral costs.
Anyone with information about the mass shooting that they think might be helpful to investigators is asked to call the Colorado Springs Police Department at (719) 444-7000. If they wish to remain anonymous, they can call the Crime Stoppers Tip Line at (719) 634-7867.