ARMED MAN KILLED AT STATE CAPITOL

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Jul 17, 2007 | by ED SEALOVER THE GAZETTE

DENVER - A state trooper shot and killed an armed man outside Gov. Bill Ritter's office Monday, prompting calls to look at tightening security in the open and tourist-friendly Capitol.

The Rocky Mountain News reported that Aaron Snyder, 32, of Thornton, walked into the office about 2 p.m., reportedly wearing a tuxedo. He announced, "I am the emperor, and I am here to take over state government," Ritter's spokesman Evan Dreyer said.

Ritter was in the office at the time but was not harmed. He and his staff members did not know the man, officials said.

Colorado State Patrol troopers led the gunman outside the first- floor office into the hallway and tried to get him to drop his gun, Dreyer said.

When he did not put down the weapon, a trooper shot and killed the man, said Master Trooper Ron Watkins.

Watkins declined to say how many bullets were fired, but three to four shots were heard on the upper floor of the Capitol.

The shooting, which some building employees mistook for noises from construction, left the Capitol in a state of confusion. Schoolchildren and tourist groups were rushed screaming out of the building or to areas that could be locked.

The office just inside the north doorway of the Capitol normally is occupied by Lt. Gov. Barbara O'Brien, but has been taken over by Ritter for the rest of the year while his office on the south side of the building is being renovated.

Asked afterward how he was doing, the first-year Democratic governor said he was concerned about visitors and staff who saw the violent end to the incident.

With the immediate threat past -- police believe the gunman acted alone -- Ritter said his next concern is whether tighter security is needed.

The building normally does not have metal detectors, and guards are not posted at any of the entrances. A number of other state buildings require visitors to sign in and be escorted inside the building, while nearby Denver city offices have guards and metal detectors.

"I think what you'll see... is a little bit of heightened security over the next few days while we have that discussion," Ritter said at a news conference 21/2 hours after the shooting. "We are mindful of the fact that we should not make a decision based on a single incident."

Metal detectors went up at the Capitol after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, but the Senate voted to remove them in 2002. They were marginally effective, said Senate Minority Leader Andy McElhany, because guards would allow people they knew to go around the detectors, and other visitors would follow them.

The gunman, whose motive is unknown, was able to walk into the unlocked reception area of Ritter's office. Security guards and doors would have barred him from getting farther.

Even as the gunman's bloodied body lay on the first floor, a number of legislators from both parties said they hoped the Capitol would remain open to all, without metal detectors at entrances.

Assistant Senate Minority Leader Nancy Spence, a Centennial Republican who was in the Capitol, said this was the first time in nine years that she'd known someone to bring a gun into the building. She continues to feel safe despite Monday's incident, she said.

Rep. Randy Fischer, a Fort Collins Democrat who returned to the Capitol shortly after the shooting, said he continues to believe that the building is "very, very secure."

"It's the people's house, and I hate to see the people excluded," Fischer said. "(Metal detectors are) just another deterrent to people wanting to come in and see their government."

Speaker of the House Andrew Romanoff, a Denver Democrat, issued a statement saying, "We want to ensure that those who visit the state Capitol as well as those who work here are safe. At the same time, we are determined to keep this building accessible to the public."

McElhany, R-Colorado Springs, noted that many of the desks throughout the building have wireless panic buttons. Though he would consider placing metal detectors around the House and Senate galleries and near the governor's office, he said the response of the state patrol and the security detail that guards the governor was adequate.

"I think it's got to make us feel good that the patrol reacted promptly," he said.

But Democratic legislative leaders, including Senate President Joan Fitz-Gerald and Senate President Pro Tem Peter Groff, said security procedures should be reviewed immediately.

Groff said he had contacted the Legislative Council and asked for recommendations for changes, if necessary, "as soon as possible."

"Security is a critical component in ensuring that the work of government moves smoothly," said Groff, D-Denver. "We don't want staff and lawmakers worried about interacting with the public that, rightfully, has access to the building."

Officials said Monday the Capitol will reopen to the public this morning. Access will be limited to the south entrance, and a magnetometer will be in place there.

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This story was posted at 2:57 p.m. Monday at gazette.com