At least four people, including the gunman, were killed during an intense hostage situation in a home in Aurora, Colorado this morning. According to the News, an "armed and dangerous man" barricaded himself inside the home around 3 a.m. As many as 40 officers, including SWAT teams and hostage negotiators, responded to what police called an "intense" scene. After a six hour standoff, officers shot and killed the suspect and discovered three bodies.
According to 9 News, another person had escaped from the home by jumping out a second-story window and alerted authorities about the situation. Other nearby homes were evacuated, and neighbors said they smelled tear gas. Sgt. Cassidee Carlson told the News that hostage negotiators briefly spoke to the suspect on the phone during the standoff; the other adults trapped in the house were not able to "come out of their own free will,” she added.
This is the second intense gun shooting in Aurora in the last six months; on July 20th, 12 people were killed and 70 were injured after a suspect opened fire in a movie theater screening The Dark Knight Rises.
