Journalists covering the fatal shooting of a security officer assigned to Denver’s Regional Transportation District are reporting that the suspect was a homegrown extremist who appeared on a database of potential terrorists.
The victim of last night's fatal shooting on 16th & Wynkoop was an Allied Universal Transit Security officer, @DenverChannel has learned pic.twitter.com/8H1y8eLTlq
— Jason Gruenauer (@JGonTV) February 1, 2017
Members of Denver Police's motorcycle unit roll out from 16th & Wynkoop, leaving a sign and flowers as memorial for shooting victim pic.twitter.com/TvxBFRPCWy
— Jason Gruenauer (@JGonTV) February 1, 2017
Joshua Cummings, 37, a Texas native, was arrested soon after witnesses say he approached RTD contract security guard Scott Von Lanken from behind late Tuesday night and shot him in the head. According to KUSA, police said the attack was “completely unprovoked” and wondered if Von Lanken, 56, was targeted because of his dark blue uniform.
Cummings, described by an acquaintance as “a crazy man” who “creeped everybody out,” reportedly appears in a database of potential terrorists.
Breaking: suspected RTD shooter found with Muslim documents, described as 'crazy man' by co- worker:https://t.co/3XOAadUXXk
— Brian Maass (@Briancbs4) February 1, 2017
Law enforcement sources characterized items found on the suspect as Muslim documents or 'paraphernalia.' Continuing to pursue more detail. https://t.co/YjDkmHGsAR
— Tim Wieland (@CBS4Tim) February 1, 2017
Breaking: RTD shooting suspect described as 'really off..crazy' by acquaintances. More on @CBSDenver broadcasts tonight pic.twitter.com/L046ieYzvv
— Brian Maass (@Briancbs4) February 1, 2017
Suspect in shooting death of RTD transit officer was on terror watch list according to my sources.
— Liz Gelardi (@LizGelardi) February 1, 2017
When suspect was arrested he reportedly made comments that he wanted to kill a cop.
— Liz Gelardi (@LizGelardi) February 1, 2017
Sources describe the suspect as a homegrown extremist. He is a US citizen who was recent to the Denver area.
— Liz Gelardi (@LizGelardi) February 1, 2017
TheDenverChannel.com reports that Cummings enlisted in the U.S. Army in July 1997 and eventually reached the rank of sergeant in July 2002. He opened a jiu jitsu academy in Texas in 2015 and moved to the Denver area last fall.
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