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2021 Ends with Colorado’s 13th Mass Shooting

December 28th Shooting

Colorado witnessed its 13th mass shooting of 2021 when a shooter drove to several locations in Denver and Lakewood, shooting and killing five people, three of whom he allegedly knew.  He was finally stopped when Lakewood police officer Ashley Ferris fatally shot him after being severely wounded herself.  She survived. 

The shooter, Lyndon MacLeod, had published violent stories for sale on Amazon that detailed ambushing and killing people.  Some of his fictional victims had the same names as his actual victims in the shooting, according to Sentinel Colorado. 

Colorado Ceasefire extends our deepest sympathy to the families and friends affected by this awful act of violence.  Those killed in the shooting were:

Danny “Dano” Scofield, Alicia Cardenas, Alyssa Gunn Maldonado, Michael Swinyard, and
Sarah Steck .  Also wounded in the attack were Jimmy Maldonado, husband of Alyssa Gun Maldonado, and police officer Ashley Ferris, who was wounded, but is recovering. 

According to Denver police, the shooter was known to the police, which has led some, including State Sen. Brittany Pettersen to question why Colorado’s ERPO law was not used to remove the shooter’s guns.

“This is exactly why we brought this law,” Pettersen told the Denver Post. “Someone like this should not be able to have weapons.”  She noted that police departments need more funding for additional training in the use of the law.

According to the Gun Violence Archive, the U.S. saw 693 mass shootings in 2021.  They define a mass shooting as one in which at least four people are injured. 

In the first week of 2022, there have been 10 mass shootings in our country.

As a member of Colorado Ceasefire, you are supporting the oldest gun violence prevention advocacy group in the state.  Colorado Ceasefire represents you in the state legislature, advocating for gun safety laws that will reduce gun violence.  Thank you for being part of this community.