Gunman at Colorado Air Force Base Surrenders to Authorities
- Posted on November 21, 2011 at 3:35pm by
Tiffany Gabbay
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UPDATE I
Air Force officials say an airman with a gun has surrendered to authorities after barricading himself in a building at the Colorado Air Force base that controls GPS satellites.
Schriever (SHREE’-ver) Air Force Base spokeswoman Jennifer Thibault (THEE’-balt) says the building was evacuated after the standoff began Monday. Officials said the situation was “resolved” as of 8 p.m.
There were no reports of injuries or disruptions in operations.
The airman was in a building where personnel prepare for deployments. Control rooms for satellites are in a separate area.
Thibault says the airman is a member of a security squadron and was armed with his own handgun. Another spokeswoman says the man faces a discharge over a matter in civilian court, but she didn’t have details.
His name hasn’t been released.
The original report is below:
SCHRIEVER AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. (The Blaze/AP) – An airman armed with a pistol barricaded himself in a building at an Air Force base in Colorado that controls all GPS satellites, but operations haven’t been disrupted, officials said Monday.
The building was evacuated, and no shots were fired and no one was injured, said Schriever Air Force Base spokeswoman Jennifer Thibault.
A negotiator and a SWAT team from the El Paso County Sheriff‘s Department were on scene at the Air Force’s request, said Air Force Lt. Marie Denson.
Thibault said the airman is a member of a security squadron and is armed with his own handgun. Officials were investigating how he got the weapon past security and onto the base.
The airman is in a building where personnel prepare for deployments, Thibault said.
Control rooms for GPS and other military satellites are in a separate, heavily protected inner compound surrounded by fences and staffed with armed guards.
The gunman faces a discharge over a matter in civilian court, but no other details were available, Denson said. He is still classified as being on active duty, she said.
The airman’s name, rank and service history weren’t immediately released.
The base about 60 miles south of Denver controls more than 60 military satellites.
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Comments (60)
Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on November 21, 2011 at 5:07pmWhere’s Tron? He’s close to there. He should have a scoop on what’s going on.
Report Post »GodblessGlennBeck
Posted on November 22, 2011 at 8:32amWhy am I thinking this airman is probably of Muslim faith? Why else would they withhold his name/identity? If he was a white conservative male, it would be all over the papers that he was probably a Tea Party member, crazy as usual, just how they love to portray us…
Report Post »jzs
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 11:25amHere we go again. Another Muslim…
Report Post »SgtB
Posted on November 21, 2011 at 5:07pmThis would never be an issue if they allowed military members to be armed on base. Current regulations keep military bases nearly as free of weapons as a college campus. Sure there are MP’s at the gates and in patrol cars, but the overwhelming majority of service members are armed with no more than a pocket knife. Switzerland has their CONSCRIPTED military personnel take a weapon home with them to keep FOREVER and we don’t even allow active duty military personnel here who joined the service of their own free will to have the rights that they themselve fight for. Namely the right to self defense which should be considered at the least an unalienable human right of every man woman and child. Way to go military brass and mothers of America. Way to go.
Report Post »sgtstubbs
Posted on November 21, 2011 at 8:24pmSurprise/ but in 1957 I was the onlyone who knew how to clean the M 2 CAb…After that I have no idea how this was in Nam but I was shocked…I leart how to in the Nat Guard. Army
Report Post »Dismayed Veteran
Posted on November 22, 2011 at 8:32amSGTB
The institutional memory of the military is stuck on the Viet Nam era with the problem of M16′s being stolen and the fragging officers.
Report Post »SgtB
Posted on November 22, 2011 at 11:04am@ dismayed vet.
Well, when the country goes to fight an unconstitutional war and conscripts its’ young men to serve in such a war, you have to expect that some of the men in charge are gonna get lit up at some point. At least today’s veterans all joined of their own free will. But still, how can the military deny the rights that its’ members fight for and that it is sworn to protect? It cannot. I’m glad I got out off active duty in Jan. 2010 because I don’t think I could stand the socialistic military any longer. Not that I am not proud of the fact that I am a Marine, but I a disgusted by the officers of every branch who institute unconstitutional orders and enforce them with an endoctrinated group of SNCO’s and inferior officers.
Report Post »jakartaman
Posted on November 21, 2011 at 5:02pmOh by the way he was yelling Allah Akbar.
Report Post »COFemale
Posted on November 21, 2011 at 4:55pmSCHRIEVER is not 60 miles south of Denver, it is about 100 + miles south of DIA and it is closer to Colorado Springs. It is about 20 miles east or so from downtown Colorado Springs. Schriever is part of the 50th Space Wing, Space Warfare Center and the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization. The base was formerly known as Falcon AFB.
Report Post »Zoomie
Posted on November 21, 2011 at 7:39pmCOFEMALE – I think you meant “formerly known as Falcatraz”. :-) Escaped from there years ago. Lovely place in the winter when the wind is blowing and the snow is coming down sideways.
Report Post »thegreatcarnac
Posted on November 21, 2011 at 4:52pmIs he still barricaded inside that building? What are they waiting for? Get a SWAT team in there and clean the situation up before supper.
Report Post »k53lh
Posted on November 21, 2011 at 4:18pmThis may be a young airman with PTSD. So lets see what happens first before we judge.
Report Post »Blackhawk1
Posted on November 21, 2011 at 4:46pmNope, here is the latest update. “The man, an Air Force airman whose name was not released, had been facing legal action in civilian court and a possible discharge from the military”.
Report Post »Cemoto78
Posted on November 21, 2011 at 7:28pmSo does that mean it’s okay for this moron to do this? Kinda like the criminals involved in the OWS movement, they were allowed to break laws and equate this to 1st amendment rights. What about the rights of those businesses and others who want to use the park. Their rights don’t matter I guess. Why have any laws at all if they are not going to be enforced. This country is on a real razors edge and could tip either way, doesn’t matter to me I am ready for both. It is really getting old playing by the rules while watching others just do what they want without any type of consequences; and I don’t believe I am alone in these ideas.
Report Post »Brady
Posted on November 21, 2011 at 8:18pmWho in the Air Force has PTSD? It’s not like they get shot at, after all.
Report Post »jcasos
Posted on November 21, 2011 at 8:44pmBrady, please tell me you’re joking because it is hard to explain this: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/09/AR2010060901071.html if they don’t.
Report Post »loriann12
Posted on November 22, 2011 at 6:59amDon’t they do any kind of security background check anymore? This guy was in security and is that unstable? Makes one wonder who they let in now. Of course, I had a secet NOFORN clearnance, so they checked my background, to interviewing one of my high school teachers.
Report Post »Sgt_Rock
Posted on November 22, 2011 at 2:58pm@Brady…unless you count the PJs that have been killed on SOCOM operations, the USAF Security Forces, men and women, that have been killed running route and convoy security. The USAF EOD units that have deployed in OIF and OEF. The aircrews that have saved countless grunts like me, flying low level through mountains with Taliban shooting at them from both sides, or working bomb and patrol dogs at check points in the middle of the most dangerous places on earth…no, your right other than that, those Air Force folks are all slackers…Pi@@ off, dude. I’ll take anyone of them BACK to war with me any day… plenty of them have made it to Arlington since 2001.
Report Post »garyM
Posted on November 21, 2011 at 4:18pmAlmost 4 hours and no update, I guess they are thinking about which lie to tell!
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on November 21, 2011 at 4:15pm.
WTH! Your at an Air Force Base. An Air Force Base has what? Air Planes, can you say Air Planes. And what are Air Planes good at? Air Strikes, can you say Air Strikes. Do I have to think of everything?……..
The next update should be some PFC with a dust pan…Good Greif……
Report Post »Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on November 21, 2011 at 4:31pmSchriever has no active runway, Satellite Operations Center. And this is a Security Forces person, he is armed for his Job. Besides, an airstrike is a bit overkill.
Report Post »Barberr
Posted on November 21, 2011 at 4:33pmFor the uninformed, Schriever AFB CO has no planes or runways. It does have a large security force which is undoubtedly try to talk the man out rather than going in with guns blazing.
Report Post »sdknewbie
Posted on November 21, 2011 at 4:40pmTrue, Schriever has no active runway … wait … it has NO RUNWAY AT ALL!! Every operation center in the building he is in is probably some type of secure vault door. Blowing up the building would be the dumbest thing to do. Good thing you are not in charge or have any influence over the resolution of this problem!
Report Post »Ballot_Box_Revolution
Posted on November 21, 2011 at 4:42pm“in a building at a Colorado Air Force base that controls all GPS satellites”
Wonder if he knew…..he does now i’m sure…If i had a death wish and wanted to go out with a bang….
Report Post »jocko
Posted on November 21, 2011 at 4:56pmThere is no way an Airman is going to fly one of our modern jet fighters. I was an avionics tech for a fighter and i knew that plane’s electronics systems inside and out. But, I also knew there was no way that I could actually fly the thing.
Report Post »Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on November 21, 2011 at 5:44pmSchriever actually had plans for a runway for the Shuttle, and was being considered for a launch site before the Challenger disaster, so when I worked out there, there originally was plans for a rather large runway.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on November 21, 2011 at 4:14pmWhat are the thoughts that go through a Brain… before one does something Crazy?
Report Post »Brady
Posted on November 21, 2011 at 8:20pmfew, and muddled.
Report Post »vavaeon
Posted on November 21, 2011 at 4:11pm(my improperly formed comment due to lack of information here)
Report Post »TXVET48
Posted on November 21, 2011 at 4:10pmThe young man probably wasn’t granted leave to go home for the holiday and is upset. He’ll cool down and surrender. Hope no one gets hurt.
Report Post »sgtstubbs
Posted on November 21, 2011 at 8:27pmThey will write him of as a nut case and give him a 10 percent discharge,.
Report Post »Rick494
Posted on November 21, 2011 at 4:00pmAccording to our local news, he’s barricaded in a processing center not one of the operations buildings. I‘m sure we’ll learn his name by the evening news time.
Report Post »BloodSweatandTears
Posted on November 21, 2011 at 4:16pmTerrific, I am so relieved…my whole family is soon to be airborne….then my advice is to PLEASE PUMP NON LETHAL sleeping gas into that building…so no one gets hurt.
Report Post »spudwhite
Posted on November 21, 2011 at 3:57pmThis could be bad.
Report Post »BloodSweatandTears
Posted on November 21, 2011 at 3:55pmSo when are they going to start PUMPING SLEEPING gas into the building? FIRST TENT IT guys…..I hope you all resolve this soon…. lots of travelers this coming week and all. Just saying….
Report Post »NHABE64
Posted on November 21, 2011 at 3:51pmGee I wonder if this person is of arabic descent. Obama says muslims have always been a part of the fabric of America. Really ? Now THAT is almost laughable. I guess we will have to see what happens when this story unfolds…..keep your camels at the ready.
Report Post »Brady
Posted on November 21, 2011 at 8:28pmActually, they HAVE been a constant kink in the fabric of America. Was it not Muslims that sold the Africans to the Dutch? Was it not Muslims that were the pirates that harassed the earliest merchant vessels of the newly formed U.S.A.? Something about the shores of Tripoli…or something… Did they not also ally with the Nazis during WWII? Aryan–Iran, I once heard there was a story there, but I never saw it on the MSM so I must have been mistaken.
So yes, I would suppose that Obama was right that Islam has been a factor in America’s development from the beginning. It seems, however, that this influence is consistently adversarial.
Report Post »Damocracy
Posted on November 21, 2011 at 3:50pmWent to Drudge couldnt find anything about this,,,you completely scooped them,,,congrats
Report Post »twofoot_trucker
Posted on November 21, 2011 at 3:46pmAnd why aren’t his name and rank being released?
Report Post »qpwillie
Posted on November 21, 2011 at 4:02pmProbably because it’s something like Achmed Mohamed Aahil Hakeem.
Report Post »Brady
Posted on November 21, 2011 at 8:36pmMost likely because he is a minority or related to a famous democrat.
Report Post »garyM
Posted on November 21, 2011 at 3:46pmJust shot him before he accomplishes his goal!
Report Post »chips1
Posted on November 21, 2011 at 3:58pmAnything to avoid waterboarding him.
Report Post »garyM
Posted on November 21, 2011 at 3:45pmSounds like another Major Hasan at Ft. Hood! Ali ak Bar!
Report Post »uzi4u2
Posted on November 21, 2011 at 9:17pmif he was charged with a civilian crime and was facing discharge, maybe he didn’t want to go. However, now he will go to Ft Levenworth for a spell, then once he’s out, he will have to serve whatever time he had on his current enlistment and face those civilian court charges too.
Report Post »jb.kibs
Posted on November 21, 2011 at 3:44pmGee, i wonder what he found out?
Report Post »CatB
Posted on November 21, 2011 at 3:44pm“His name, rank and service history haven’t been released”
This should be interesting .. watch how the MSM spins whatever it is!
TEA!
Report Post »otmonger
Posted on November 21, 2011 at 3:44pmThank you Obama for all you have done to this country!!!!!!!
Report Post »colnzgprnts
Posted on November 21, 2011 at 4:06pmYou are correct that the Marxist-in-chief has created an environment that encourages this kind of dangerous nonsense, but you should be fore-warned that you are racist and probably a homophobe because you spoke out against the idiot that was elected to the highest office in our land.
Report Post »oldwmn
Posted on November 21, 2011 at 3:42pmYumpen Yahozafit Great Balls of Fire Putten on my Dads old MP helmet..Duck n Cover oh wait those are GPS Satelites..rot rooh hope the young Airman gets all the help he needs and everyone can get off Red Alert…
Report Post »WVBeagleMom
Posted on November 21, 2011 at 3:42pmOh good grief!
Report Post »thegreatcarnac
Posted on November 21, 2011 at 3:41pmGreat! My GPS is not messed up enough…lets let some fool with his little pistol start messing with the controls. Already…it recalculates in mid-interstate and tells me to ‘turn left now.’
Report Post »diablosho
Posted on November 21, 2011 at 3:48pmHaha! That’s funny and so true! Like the commercial “Turn left…….NOW! “!!!
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