COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.—Police released about six hours of recordings of 911 calls and police radio traffic from last month’s shootings at New Life Church on Friday.
The recordings help give an idea of the chaotic scene churchgoers and police faced after Matthew Murray opened fire as services let out on Dec. 9. Stephanie Works, 18, and her sister Rachel, 16, were both fatally shot in the parking lot and their father, David Works, was wounded.
Murray wounded another person before being wounded by a volunteer security guard and killing himself.
Reports from witnesses led police to initially think there could be more than one gunman. They also had to search the sprawling church building for victims who were hiding inside.
Police arrived at the church within two minutes of the first 911 call and took about 7 minutes to reach the Works’ van, where Lauri Works, Stephanie’s twin sister, had been talking to a dispatcher.
At first, police relayed a report about a possible suspect getting into a vehicle and another about a possible suspect running away from the church. After officers talked to more witnesses and more 911 calls came in, including some from people in hiding, it became clear that the shooter was inside the church.
After that, some officers were told to secure the scene and a team of two officers and El Paso County sheriff’s deputy entered the north side of the church. Seconds after that, one of them reported the shooter was down and requested an ambulance.
