Details are still a little fuzzy, Fox 31 News is reporting that this morning, this morning, two armed men entered a Denver Radio Shack and took another man hostage.
Weirdness in Denver this morning. Two gunmen are holding a hostage in a Radio Shack on Colfax. Several public schools are on lockdown.
— Tuckertown (@Tuckertown) September 7, 2012
OMG- something LOUD is happening in Denver on Colfax.Bombs and gunfire at a Radio shack
— K. LittleDeer (@AyahuascaDreams) September 7, 2012
The hostage has been identified as Chris Nimerfroh, a single father and manager of the store. One of the suspected gunmen has been posting messages and photos to his Facebook account from inside the store.
#RadioShackShooting Suspected gunman is 19 & has posted photo & this post to Facebook: "Swear to God, I'm gonna die" http://t.co/4n5BY8rQ
— FOX31 Denver KDVR (@KDVR) September 7, 2012
According to Fox 31, that suspect is 19 years old, has a daughter, and had a friend who was recently shot and killed by police in Aurora, a Denver suburb.
Fox 31 has also posted some of what has been transmitted over the police scanners:
- “All cars, on a robbery that just occurred at Glencoe and Colfax at Radio Shack. Two parties entered about a minute ago with red bandanas covering their faces.”
- “Hold the air, we had one run back in. Keep your perimeter.”
- “Glencoe & Colfax. Shots fired.”
- “Somebody just closed the back door. They’re inside. We have a barricaded suspect.”
- “We’ve got two black males inside the store with masks on with shots fired from inside.”
- “One black male has on a striped black and white shirt on with long sleeves and it looks like black pants”
- “Rifle in the front. Watch your crossfire”
- “Woman says the clerk never did come out”
- “There’s a long gun on the east, on the south and on the west side of the building”
No injuries have been reported so far. Twitchy will continue to monitor this story and bring you updates as it develops.
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Hostage situation in Denver Radio Shack, gunman holding at least one, SWAT team on scenehttp://t.co/A8Rlm6AD
— Tremble the Devil (@TrembleTheDevil) September 7, 2012
The Denver Post is reporting that nearby businesses have been evacuated.
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Updates (via Fox 31):
Hostage Chris Nimerfroh’s mother reportedly has cancer and received a blood transfusion only yesterday.
Additionally, a Fox 31 has spoken with Ernest Watson, a friend of one of the suspects:
Watson said there are actually two suspects inside the building. The other male is 20 years old. He said the two were attempting to rob the Payday Loans stores next door and not the Radio Shack.
When police arrived, Watson said the two suspects fired at officers, grabbed a hostage and retreated inside the Radio Shack.
Watson spoke with Hayden right after he finished assisting police. He said the two suspects have no demands. He said he also thinks they have no plans to give up. “They know they’re either going to jail forever or that the police are going to shoot them,” Watson said.
Police have also cut off cellphone and Facebook access for the suspect who had been posting photos and messages earlier.
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Update:
Radio Shack’s corporate offices have issued a statement:
“We are continuing to monitor the situation just like everyone else, we are watching it live. We pray for the safety of everyone involved.”
Nimerfroh is apparently a member of Victory Church in Denver. Victory sent out this tweet:
One of our own is the hostage in the #radioshack #standoff in Denver. Please pray for peaceful resolution and his safety!
— VictoryDenver (@VictoryDenver) September 7, 2012
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Denver-area residents and others took to Twitter to express their fear and concern:
https://twitter.com/DollfaceKarizma/status/244115346674573312
“@Chelsea_Vicious: There's people being held hostage at the Radio Shack in Denver on colfax?! Omg.” my girl works right by it!
— ½ Man ½ Amazing (@toogangsterforu) September 7, 2012
"@Chelsea_Vicious: There's people being held hostage at the Radio Shack in Denver on colfax?! Omg." what? omg
— Des (@desi_bad_duh) September 7, 2012
Poor kids on lockdown at school for this idiot holding a hostage at Radio Shack #Denver #IDIOT #getajob
— AmandaElisia (@amandaelisia) September 7, 2012
Since the senseless movie theater shooting in Aurora this past July, followed by the violence at the Wisconsin Sikh temple and the Family Research Council, citizens in Colorado and beyond have been particularly sensitive to the specter of shootings:
https://twitter.com/EpicAngela/status/244114007445876736
https://twitter.com/HANbanan_06/status/244114202665570304
Hostage situation reported at Denver Radio Shack http://t.co/CN2N9d98 This is the summer of crazies here. Altitude mental disease.
— Adam Honore (@adhonore) September 7, 2012
Goodness, looks like more craziness in #Denver. Man held hostage. http://t.co/BH3QYxbO
— DaveHutton (@huttondh) September 7, 2012
Denver having bad luck first the movie theatre killer dude now hostages in radio shack!!
— vickie (@_vickyNOsecret) September 7, 2012
https://twitter.com/mspurpluvsu/status/244117243359817728
ENOUGH with the shootings!! Illinois and radio shack in denver. fuckin crazy ass people
— Muffin_Of_Stud (@Muffin_of_Stud) September 7, 2012
A few people couldn’t pass up the opportunity to showcase their thoughtlessness and stupidity:
https://twitter.com/jasonzwiebel/status/244133654010421248
Shots fired at a Radio Shack here in Denver right now. No one likes Radio Shack lol.
— Bill.I.Am (@CodeSe7en) September 7, 2012
They had customers?!?! RT @ProducerMatthew: Just in: Reports of shots fired, hostages being held at Denver-area Radio Shack
— Lonely Tailgater (@LonelyTailgater) September 7, 2012
Someone is pissed that they are out of diodes. "@BuzzFeed: HOSTAGE SITUATION AT DENVER RADIO SHACK – LIVE VIDEO: http://t.co/LgEpZQGu"
— Guy Larose (@guylarose) September 7, 2012
All part of Radio Shack's PR campaign: We Still Exist! "@amaeryllis: BREAKING: Denver Police are responding to a standoff at Radio Shack"
— Jamila Marie (@Jamila203) September 7, 2012
But many Twitterers are offering up prayers:
Hostage situation reported at Denver Radio Shack | Fox News http://t.co/VZfGuUor via @foxnews I hope the hostages are released unharmed.
— Jean (@txjean2014) September 7, 2012
https://twitter.com/amstaffdoggy/status/244120519077675009
Lord I pray for a hostage situation in Denver right now!! Please keep everyone safe Lord and cause guns to stop shooting!#GodsPrayerRoom
— Cheri Douglas (@CheriDouglas) September 7, 2012
I pray for the safety of all hostages and police officers in Denver right now Lord. #GodsPrayerRoom
— Cheri Douglas (@CheriDouglas) September 7, 2012
Lord I pray right now for your hand of healing to be on the victims injured in the Raido Shack takeover in Denver. #GodsPrayerRoom
— Cheri Douglas (@CheriDouglas) September 7, 2012
https://twitter.com/keuni97/status/244141396347469824
Yet another hostage situation occurring in Denver please pray for peace for this beautiful state xo
— luanne thomas (@greenbayluby) September 7, 2012
The hostage in the #radioshack #standoff in Denver is Chris Nimerfroh, part of the @VictoryDenver family. Please pray for him!
— Matthew Ware (@matthewware) September 7, 2012
Friends are now holding a prayer meeting on hoping the suspect will come out #radioshack #standoff
— Matt Flener KMBC (@MattFlenerKMBC) September 7, 2012
Colfax standoff: friends and family pray for suspect in Radio Shack store. pic.twitter.com/Pp9aYmFa
— Lane Lyon (@lanelyon) September 7, 2012
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A live stream of the coverage is available here.
Our thoughts are with Mr. Nimerfroh and his loved ones.
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Update:
Just in: Appears someone has been taken into custody from the Denver, Colorado Radio Shack hostage situation.
— Matthew Keys (@MatthewKeysLive) September 7, 2012
NOW LIVE: Individual being taken into custody outside Denver, Colorado Radio Shack store – http://t.co/3rfKUwta
— Matthew Keys (@MatthewKeysLive) September 7, 2012
Video from KMGH-TV shows law enforcement were able to gain entry into the Radio Shack store in Denver, Colorado.
— Matthew Keys (@MatthewKeysLive) September 7, 2012
KUSA reporting at least one suspect and the hostage have been removed from the Radio Shack store in Denver, Colorado.
— Matthew Keys (@MatthewKeysLive) September 7, 2012
Denver Police confirm on Twitter suspect in Radio Shack hostage situation has been taken into custody – @DenverPolice
— Matthew Keys (@MatthewKeysLive) September 7, 2012
Standoff ends at Colfax #RadioShack. Suspect in custody. Hostage released and is okay, police say.
— Denver7 News (@DenverChannel) September 7, 2012
RadioShack has released a statement following conclusion of the #RadioShackStandoff http://t.co/iInMmqqd
— Dan Petty (@danielpetty) September 7, 2012
We’re relieved that police could resolve the situation peacefully and we’re grateful for their swift and professional response. We’ll continue to support the police investigation as it is expected to be ongoing. We’re offering our prayers to all of the families involved.
Nimerfroh and both suspects are in police custody. Thankfully, no one was hurt.