Cops Can’t Tell Which Twin Is Dead in Puzzling Shootings at CO Firing Range
- Posted on November 16, 2010 at 10:12pm by
Scott Baker
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AURORA, Colo. (AP) — Twin sisters from Australia were both shot in the head at an outdoor Colorado shooting range, killing one of the women and leaving the other critically injured, authorities said Tuesday.
Arapahoe County officials have not released the identities of the victims found Monday at the range at Cherry Creek State Park south of Denver. Sheriff’s Capt. Louie Perea declined to release the sisters’ hometown or other information until their family was notified.
Perea says investigators aren’t sure who fired the gun or guns, or whether the same bullet hit both sisters, who were in the same shooting lane. The sisters had taken a taxi to the range and had been there for more than an hour when they were shot.
Perea said it’s unclear whether the surviving sister would sufficiently recover to be able to provide information to investigators.
Investigators were working with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to determine how long the sisters had been in the United States.
“We’re looking at the last several days she was alive, see where they were and we want to confirm some facts,” Perea said.
The sisters had a small-caliber weapon at one of the lanes where shooters line up behind a wooden wall and shoot through an opening that resembles a window, Perea said. There was no apparent indication of a dispute between the sisters or anybody entering or leaving the area.
Surveillance cameras captured patrons’ reactions to the shooting, but not the shooting itself. A patron notified range officials of the shooting.
Range owner Doug Hamilton told The Denver Post that the women showed no outward signs of trouble or duress when they arrived at the shooting range.
The range was open Tuesday.
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Comments (40)
orkydorky
Posted on November 17, 2010 at 7:35pmI’m sure that your all well meaning speculators, but wouldn’t it be common sense to hold off the comments until the facts come out?
Report Post »california_red
Posted on November 17, 2010 at 2:39pmat least the third suicide/homicide I have seen in the news in the past several years. I remember a mom who killed her son then herself (in FLA?) , and then another suicide at a range somewhere.
I fear that gun ranges are going to be demonized by the gun haters soon. And once the ranges are banned, then the argument will be that people are not trained properly to have guns.
I know in one case the gun was rented at the range. Probably a bad idea because it can circumvent cooling off periods required to get your hands on a gun.
Report Post »ozchambers
Posted on November 17, 2010 at 10:59amIf it is true that the bullet that struck them both was of a different caliber, I’d be inclined to suspect a ricochet. Any of you who frequent gun ranges like myself have seen or experienced having a person instructing the shooter standing behind and talking over the shoulder of the shooter. A richochet could approach in such a way as to strike both of them in the head.
Report Post »wilshar97
Posted on November 17, 2010 at 2:50pmdid you serve on the WARREN COMMISSION???????
Report Post »shellmen
Posted on November 17, 2010 at 10:03amIf you anti gun people are part of the tea party you have a BIG problem.
Report Post »SgtB
Posted on November 17, 2010 at 9:49am99.9999% of deaths at a gun range are suicides. Remember the mother who took her teen son to the range just to shoot him and then herself? Its a horrible thing to happen, but it is rare that a man would go to a range where others are guaranteed to have weapons and try to shoot somone. It just doesn’t happen that often. Suicide is the most likely cause.
Report Post »ARCHON
Posted on November 17, 2010 at 9:09amThe one that isn’t breathing is the DEAD one.
D’UH.
Report Post »jamn2dblues
Posted on November 17, 2010 at 6:48amThis is so sad. If Identical twins it could be near impossible – but you would think even Identical twins their dental records should show a variation on who is who.
Report Post »Sinista Mace
Posted on November 17, 2010 at 3:57amIronic, they can’t tell the difference between two twins, and I can’t tell the difference between the cops and their twins, the Nazi Gestapo.
Report Post »kingssman
Posted on November 17, 2010 at 2:04amThe uh picture leading to this article “Family shooting range” looks so wrong for the subject.
Report Post »SaintMichael
Posted on November 17, 2010 at 1:13amDouble suicide. Move along. Nothing to see here.
Report Post »Tony Nagy
Posted on November 17, 2010 at 12:40amVery Very sad indeed. I hope the investigation is very thorough. My heart goes out to the family. :(
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on November 17, 2010 at 12:37amno chance it was a double suicide??
Report Post »katy
Posted on November 16, 2010 at 11:53pmThis is my shooting range. I go there often. It is one of the safest ranges in Colorado. There are range officers everywhere and the rules are strictly enforced.
Report Post »This is very sad. I have a suspicion this was a double suicide. There‘s very little info to suggest otherwise but we’ll have to wait and see…
countryboy42
Posted on November 17, 2010 at 7:53amI agree. I have shot at this range a few times as well. I have also shot at several ranges where there is no one but the shooters looking out for each other, and have yet to see any injury happen.
Report Post »I hope that this can be cleared up soon, and that it does not give the anti-gun freaks any more reason to ruin a safe, and rewarding sport.
BTW KATY, you should try the NRA range near Salida. 1000yds rifle, several trap stations, and a pistol and blackpowder area.
reshas1
Posted on November 17, 2010 at 8:49amMy husband has shot there, it is very strict.. He heard yesterday that the caliber bullets they took out of them is different than the gun they had.
Report Post »wilshar97
Posted on November 17, 2010 at 2:35pmWhy in the same booth???? Not being citizens, why RENT them a handgun??? While i instruct shooting NEVER would ANYONE HANDLE ANY FIREARM without hands-off instruction first. For a range to allow this speaks volumes about this facility. a reply to OZCHAMBERS———-HUH?????
Report Post »Goohuman
Posted on November 16, 2010 at 11:47pmVery odd and sad. Will be interested in what happened.
Report Post »korbin
Posted on November 16, 2010 at 11:42pmI had a friend of mine from australia visit last year, I have many firearms and live in the so cal desert which meamns plenty of shooting places. He is 32 years old and had never touched a firearm let alone shoot one, when I gave him the safety tips etc he shot my .357 and pissed himself as Australia is like most of the world left wing anti gun freaks, moral of story is maybe more countries should lighten up on guns so they can learn to shoot and be safe.
Report Post »My friend had me video the shooting for him to show all his country men that the US rocks, even with a soros run government.
George1
Posted on November 16, 2010 at 11:29pmI have a twin. People don‘t understand what it’s like; just imagining not having my twin brother in my life is harrowing. I hope they figure out what happened.
Report Post »HillCountryPatriot
Posted on November 16, 2010 at 11:33pmI’m with you on this. As I stated above, I’m an identical twin. It is unimaginable to me to lose him… next to my wife, he’s my closest friend.
Report Post »Fudd the wabbit hunter
Posted on November 16, 2010 at 11:27pmWere they, perhaps, blonde?
Lord, please forgive me and be with the starving pygmies in New Guinea, amen….
Report Post »Beckofile
Posted on November 17, 2010 at 10:53amDid anyone teach the blonde’s that you aim the barrel down range and not at self.
Report Post »New-American-Saviors
Posted on November 16, 2010 at 11:21pmLOTS of Public and Private ranges use surveillance equipment. Remember to take your Brass home with you as well.
Report Post »HillCountryPatriot
Posted on November 16, 2010 at 11:24pmI like having my own private land for shooting. I enjoy the security of controlling my own environment.
Report Post »cstcomputers
Posted on November 16, 2010 at 11:10pmHMMM! WOW, sorry to hear this but it sure makes you wonder doesn’t it? Should at least fairly easy to tell if they were shot with their own gun and if not then probably a murder. Strange things happen though and could be a ricochet I guess…
Report Post »cShell
Posted on November 17, 2010 at 3:26amYou can rent guns at this facility, and the local news said they rented the guns.
Report Post »MidAmerican
Posted on November 16, 2010 at 10:51pmSad indeed, and yes, the story will be interesting.
Report Post »HUGE FRONTAL LOBE
Posted on November 16, 2010 at 10:43pmDouble your pleasure – Double your fun.
HillCountryPatriot
Posted on November 16, 2010 at 10:51pmThat is so wrong. I’m trying to force the smirk away from my face. Shame on me.
Report Post »katy
Posted on November 16, 2010 at 11:54pmNot funny. That was someone’s child. Just not funny…
Report Post »HillCountryPatriot
Posted on November 16, 2010 at 10:42pmThis is very sad and bizarre to say the least. I’m an identical twin, and I got sick to my stomach when I heard about this earlier today. I’m an avid shooter and I have been trying to figure out how this could happen. The reports say their bodies dropped at nearly the same time. They were shooting small caliber handguns (.32 possibly?), so I’m having a hard time thinking this was a ricochet of some sort. Planned double suicide? Sniper? Who knows? There is more to this than meets the eye.
In any case, please God, bless this family and ease their pain.
Report Post »grandmaof5
Posted on November 17, 2010 at 7:08amMy son is an instructor with Appleseed Project and the thing that amazes me is the fact they just hand guns over to two women who may, or may not, know how to fire the guns safely. That is really scary. Prayers go out to the family and friends of these two women.
Report Post »stang289
Posted on November 16, 2010 at 10:28pmsad story
Report Post »HouseNegro
Posted on November 16, 2010 at 10:24pmMy money’s on a Love Triangle………..
Report Post »dontbotherme
Posted on November 16, 2010 at 10:24pmI sincerely hope that the authorities can find out what happened quickly for the sake of their family. My sympathy goes out to them.
Report Post »snowleopard3200 {mix art}
Posted on November 17, 2010 at 12:01amGod above, please comfort the surviving family of the slain girl, and be with healing hands to the one who survives. Let the shooter(s) be caught quick and fed to the Dingos.
ron the veteran
Posted on November 17, 2010 at 12:30amdid anyone notice he sign FAMILY SHOOTING CENTER i didnt know they had them. i could of used that one divorce and 3 girl friends a place to shoot the family is just too easy. now i realised none of my family is worth the cost of the bullets. family shooting center is not the best choice of words. how about just the words FIREING RANGE. family shooting center makes it sound like its ok to shoot family. some people take things literally.
Aither
Posted on November 17, 2010 at 2:22am@Snow
Beautiful prayer. But I believe that the authorities said the sisters shot each or themselves. There was no one else involved in the shootings. But we should all pray for the sister who survived to be healed, as well as for the family of the sisters. Hopefully the questions on what happened can be solved.
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