Colorado Springs – Dozens of people brought flowers, cards, stuffed animals and flags Wednesday to the side of Fountain Boulevard Bridge, where a Colorado Springs police officer was gunned down.
Officer Kenneth Chua Jordan, 32, was shot and killed during a traffic stop Monday night.
A steady stream of people stopped at the shooting site Wednesday and left notes, including one that read: “Thank you. God bless your family. You are a true American hero.”
Roy Van said he heard the gunshots. “I heard all the sirens. It’s just a real tragic event. I wanted to come here and show my respect and to mourn with the family.”
Joe Waskom, 58, stood staring down at the flowers. He retired last year after serving as a police officer for 31 years.
“He was always a likable guy. Always smiling,” Waskom said of Jordan. He added that what happened to Jordan could happen to any officer at any time.
“If you are a police officer, you know it is going to happen. It could be in a short time or in 20 years,” he said. “You hope it never happens again.”
Tuesday morning, a suicidal man stuck a gun outside his door and fired toward Colorado Springs officers. None of them was struck.
Another Colorado Springs officer was injured during a confrontation a few weeks ago. And in February, Officer Jared Jensen was shot and killed while trying to arrest a fugitive.
Marco Reiner Lee, 25, the man who allegedly shot Jordan, was hospitalized with gunshot wounds he suffered during the shootout with police late Monday. He remains in good condition, said Lt. Rafael Cintron, Colorado Springs police spokesman.
Prosecutors have not filed any formal charges against Lee.
Funeral arrangements for Jordan were made Wednesday with relatives who traveled from Illinois, Cintron said. A public visitation service is scheduled for Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. at Swan Law Funeral Home, 501 N. Cascade Ave.
A memorial service is scheduled for Monday at 1 p.m. at New Life Church, 11025 Voyager Parkway, Cintron said. It is open to the public.
A police procession will take the casket from the church to the Police Operations Center, 705 S. Nevada Ave.
