Colorado Man Arrested After Breaching Supreme Court, Holds Guard at Gunpoint, Opens Fire
In a disturbing turn of events, a man was apprehended early Tuesday after breaking into the Colorado Supreme Court overnight and firing shots inside the building, as reported by state police in a news release.
The preliminary investigation conducted by the Colorado State Patrol suggests that the incident is not related to recent threats against the Colorado Supreme Court Justices, according to CNN.
The suspect, identified as 44-year-old Brandon Olsen, is now in custody and faces investigation for robbery, burglary, and arson, pending charging decisions by the Denver District Attorney's Office.
It remains unclear if Olsen has legal representation, and inquiries to the public defender's office, following their policy of not commenting on criminal cases, have not yielded information.
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Colorado Man Surrenders After the Incident
The sequence of events leading to the arrest began with a two-vehicle crash at 13th Street and Lincoln Street, where one individual reportedly brandished a handgun at another driver around 1:15 AM on Tuesday, according to the Colorado State Patrol, per CBS News.
Shortly after the crash, the suspect, identified by Denver police as an adult male, shot out a window on the east side of the Colorado Supreme Court building and entered.
Upon encountering an unarmed security guard from the Colorado State Patrol Capitol Security Unit, he held the guard at gunpoint, confiscated their keys, and proceeded to navigate different sections of the building.
The suspect eventually reached the 7th floor, where he discharged additional shots.
Law enforcement swiftly established a perimeter around the building, and at approximately 3 AM, the suspect dialed 911 to surrender.
He was taken into custody and transported to a hospital for medical clearance. Fortunately, no injuries were reported among building occupants, the suspect, or law enforcement.
The Denver Fire Department responded to a fire spotted by law enforcement during the incident, quickly bringing it under control.
However, significant and extensive damage occurred to the Colorado Supreme Court building, according to the Colorado State Patrol.
Colorado Supreme Court Shooting Under Investigation
The motive behind Tuesday's incident is unknown, and the case remains under investigation by Colorado and Denver police, as per USA Today.
Authorities emphasize that, based on preliminary findings, there is no apparent connection to earlier threats against the Colorado court's justices.
This incident unfolded two weeks after Colorado's Supreme Court decision to remove former President Donald Trump from the state's 2024 presidential primary ballot, citing his ineligibility under the 14th Amendment's "insurrectionist ban," HuffPost noted.
While the FBI had been collaborating with local law enforcement to address threats against the justices following the decision, it is asserted that the break-in is not linked to the ruling or the reported threats, according to state police and the ongoing preliminary investigation led by the Denver Police Department.
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Written by: Bert Hoover
WATCH: Man breaks into Colorado Supreme Court overnight and opens fire, police say - From CNN