Colorado Springs police today continued to unravel a series of apparently unrelated but dramatic shootings that left four people dead and two wounded Wednesday night.
A fight inside an auto parts store escalated to a double shooting and hostage situation in one case. Police might have shot a man through a door in another, and three teenage boys were gunned down in the street in the final one.
No arrests have been made, but suspects in the two non-officer-involved shootings have been identified, police said this afternoon.
“We are not going to tolerate any kind of discrimination and violence in Colorado Springs,” Colorado Springs Mayor Steve Bach said at a morning press conference reported by the Colorado Springs Gazette. “We are going to redouble our efforts and then double them again.”
At 10:20 p.m. three teenagers, including two brothers, were shot to death in the street near Academy Boulevard and Montebello Drive.
None of the circumstances of the shooting have released, but police are looking for 24-year-old Michael Arangio of Colorado Springs and characterized him as armed and dangerous. He is white 5 feet, 8 inches tall, 140 pounds with brown hair and green eyes.
Arangio has a criminal record. He was arrested by Colorado Springs police on May 14 and charged with felony menacing with a weapon. He was released on $4,000 bond.
Police have an arrest warrant for Arangio in connection with Wednesday night’s shooting alleging first-degree murder with extreme indifference, court records show. A charge of first-degree murder often means authorities suspect premeditation.
Arangio might be driving a green 2002 Nissan Xterra with Colorado plate number 831-OLZ.
The victims are Austin Howse, 16; Wayne Fix, 19, and Aaron Fix, 16.
A candlelight vigil is planned tonight at 8:30 at Russell Middle School at 3825 Montebello Drive.
Just after 8 p.m. Wednesday, one man was killed in the parking lot and another man was wounded inside a AutoZone store at 5792 Palmer Park Blvd.. Police suspect 60-year-old Ernest Schmidt of Colorado Springs, who is still at-large and considered armed and dangerous.
Schmidt allegedly escaped by stealing a car in the parking lot and taking the driver hostage. The man was released unharmed about 2 miles west, near Palmer Park Boulevard and Academy Boulevard.
The car was found abandoned a mile north of there at Maizeland Road and Academy Boulevard.
Police said Schmidt, who sometimes identifies himself as 47-year-old Edward Coffey, faces one count of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, aggravated robbery and second-degree kidnapping.
Schmidt has a lengthy criminal record, including charges of burglary, assault, escape and theft in several Front Range counties. He has served several prison sentences, records show.
A store employee who would not give his name told the Gazette the shooting escalated from a confrontation inside the store, not a hold-up.
This morning Colorado Springs police raided a home — using tear gas and a bomb squad robot — in the 2500 block of Gina Drive looking for Schmidt, but did not find him.
Anyone with information is asked to call 719-444-7000 or Crime Stoppers at 719-634-7867.
At about 8:30 p.m., officers pursued a 21-year-old man with a gun to an apartment on Airport Road near South Murray Boulevard.
His name has not been released.
While negotiating with the man through the door, up to three officers eventually fired and wounded the man, police said today.
Police were initially called because of a disturbance involving the man and a woman at the apartment. The man reportedly was burning the woman’s belongings inside the residence.
