Colorado Springs birthday party shooting leaves seven dead, including gunman

A man walked into a birthday party in Colorado on Saturday and fatally shot six people, including his girlfriend, before turning the gun on himself, police say.

A Colorado Springs birthday party abruptly ended in gunfire early on Saturday night after a man opened fire, killing seven people.

Officers with the Colorado Springs Police Department responded to a report of a shooting at approximately 12.18am on Sunday at the 2800 block of Preakness Way in Canterbury Mobile Home Park.

Upon arrival at the trailer, responding officers discovered six deceased adults and one man with serious injuries. The man was transported to a local hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.

The suspected shooter was the boyfriend of a female victim at the party attended by friends, family and children. He walked inside and began shooting before killing himself, police said. The children at the trailer were uninjured by the suspect and are now with relatives.

Police have not released the names of the victims or the suspect and an investigation is underway to determine a motive.

My thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims of today’s tragic act of violence in Colorado Springs. pic.twitter.com/fp1wtNRloO

— Governor Jared Polis (@GovofCO) May 9, 2021

Colorado Springs Police Chief Vince Niski said in a statement that “words fall short to describe the tragedy that took place this morning.”

“As the chief of police, as a husband, as a father, as a grandfather, as a member of this community, my heart breaks for the families who have lost someone they love and for the children who have lost their parents,” Mr Niski said.

“From the officers who responded to the shooting to the investigators still on scene, we are all left incredibly shaken.”

The shooting occurred just after midnight on Saturday. Picture: Fox21 News

A man allegedly killed six people and turned the gun on himself. Picture: Fox21 News

Police say the shooter was the boyfriend of one of the victims. Picture: KRDO

He added, “This is something you hope never happens in your own community, in the place that you call home. When these types of unspeakable acts happen, there is nothing that can be done to fully rebuild what was lost or replace those who are no longer with us.

“My vow to this community and to the families who have lost someone today, is that this department will do everything we can to find you the answers you deserve and be here for you with an unwavering support.”

Colorado Governor Jared Polis called the incident “devastating, especially as many of us are spending the day celebrating the women in our lives who have made us the people we are today.”

“Multiple lives were taken today by this terrible act of violence. Families torn apart, and at a birthday party no less,” Mr Polis said. “My deepest condolences and prayers are with the victims, their families, and everyone else impacted by this tragedy.”

Colorado Springs, with a population of 465,000 is Colorado’s second-largest city after the capital Denver.

The incident is the state’s worst mass shooting since March 22, when gunman Ahmad Al Aliwi Al-Issa allegedly shot and killed 10 people inside a supermarket in Boulder.

This article originally appeared on Fox News and was reproduced with permission