Police have released a mugshot of the 25-year-old man arrested over the murders of a single mother and a student who were gunned down in a Colorado college dorm last week.
Nicholas Jordan, from Detroit, is accused of shooting Celie Rain Montgomery, 26, and Sam Knopp, 24, on Friday at Crestone House on the UCCS campus.
Colorado Springs Police Department said he was detained at Cliff Point Circle East in the city at 8.37am on Monday.
‘Investigative efforts continue to indicate this was an isolated incident between individuals who were known to one another and not a random attack against the school or other students at the university,’ the department said.
Montgomery was a single mother to two daughters aged five and seven, according to a Facebook post by a heartbroken relative responding to her death, while Knopp was a gifted music student. It’s unclear what their relation was.
Nicholas Jordan, 25, is accused of killing two people in the Colorado Springs shooting
Celie Rain Montgomery (pictured), 26, was identified along with Sam Knopp, 24, after what police believe was a double murder last week
Sam Knopp with is pictured with his mother, Amy, in photo posted online
Sam Knopp, 24, was names as one of the victims of a shooting in a dorm at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs on Friday
Jordan is being held at the El Paso County Jail charged with two counts of murder in the first degree.
He was booked after members of Colorado Springs PD’s Motor Vehicle Theft Unit located him in a vehicle on Monday morning, police said.
‘At this point in our investigation, this incident does not appear to be a murder-suicide and both deaths are being investigated as homicides,’ the department said previously.
The coroner’s office will determine how they died, but each person was shot at least once in what appeared to be an ‘isolated incident,’ police spokesperson Ira Cronin said at a briefing.
Knopp, was a senior studying music at the university and said to be a beloved member of the Visual and Performing Arts department. He was an accomplished guitar player and an extremely talented musician.
Meanwhile, Montgomery worked as a freelance copywriter specializing in health and wellness. She was not a student at the university.
A lockdown across campus lasted for about 90 minutes and later was isolated to Crestone House, a student apartment complex on campus, school spokesperson Chris Valentine said.
A police officer stands outside a dorm in the Village at Alpine Valley housing on Friday as police investigate a shooting on the University of Colorado Colorado Springs campus
Knopp, was a talented senior studying music at the university
Shocked students look outside their dorm window in the Village at Alpine Valley housing
When police officers got to the room at around 6am Friday, they found Knopp and Montgomery both dead, having been shot in the head.
Following the lockdown, the campus about 70 miles south of Denver remained closed for the day.
Knopp’s mother, Amy, shared her concerns online just as the shooting was taking place.
‘There were reports of an active shooter on campus at UCCS where our son, Sam, is a senior. At least one person is dead,’ she wrote.
‘I haven’t heard from Sam. He lives in Alpine Village, where residents were told to shelter in place. The campus is in lockdown and is now closed today.
‘PLEASE EXCUSE MY LANGUAGE BUT IT’S THE GODDAMNED GUNS! This hits way too close to home and it makes me want to vomit. All the ‘thoughts and prayers’ in the world mean nothing without action to back them up.’
Once it became clear her son was one of the victims, there followed messages of condolence.
‘I’m so sorry for your loss and praying so hard for you and your family,’ wrote Brittany Craig.
‘Amy my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. My heart is broken my condolences,’ said Diane Sigl.
‘I’m so sorry Amy, I am angry and heartbroken we lost Sam,’ added Elsa Ge.
Sam Knopp is seen alongside his twin sister Ellie
Sam, left, and his sister Ellie are pictured together in a family photo
‘Given this case’s active and fluid nature, additional information about those leads and any potential suspect details will not be released at this time,’ a press release from the police department read.
‘While acknowledging the difficulty of the situation and the withholding of information in the initial stages of the investigation, we owe it to the victims and their families to deliver accountability and justice for this horrific act,’ police said.
‘These are the third and fourth homicides in the City of Colorado Springs this year. At this time last year, there were two homicides.’
The campus was also closed over the weekend but walk-in counseling was offered at the wellness center on both days, the university said.
The university has said that classes will be cancelled on Monday but walk-in counseling will also be offered together with spaces on campus being open to offering food and support.