COLORADO SPRINGS — On Thursday morning, Colorado Springs Police responded to two deadly shootings that are not believed to be connected.
Update: On Friday, June 24, the Colorado Spring Police Department announced Paris Toler-Anderson was arrested in San Antonio by the US Marshals Service on a charge of murder in the first degree.
Police identified the female shooting victim as 51-year-old Gwendolyn Watson of Colorado Springs. Detectives have also identified the suspect in the shooting as 34-year-old Paris Toler-Anderson. Police say the suspect is not in custody and police are currently trying to find him.
Police say Ms. Watson’s death is the 18th homicide investigation in the City of Colorado Springs in 2021. The Colorado Springs Police Department investigated 21 homicides at this time last year.
Original: On Thursday morning, Colorado Springs Police responded to two deadly shootings that are not believed to be connected.
At around 12:20 a.m. officers responded to a shooting that happened in the parking lot outside of Woody's Bar and Grill on E. Pikes Peak Ave. The female victim did not survive her injuries. Witnesses say that the suspect fired several shots in the parking lot and fled before police arrived. Police say they believe the victim and the shooter knew each other, and there appears to be no direct threat to the community. The Colorado Springs Police Department Major Crimes Unit is investigating the incident as a homicide.
30 minutes later, at around 12:50 a.m., there was a second deadly shooting near East Fountain Boulevard and South Circle Drive outside a 7-Eleven store. According to Colorado Springs Police, the male victim in this shooting did not survive and died at the scene. Police say the suspect fired multiple shots in the parking lot striking the man before fleeing the area. This shooting is also being investigated as a homicide.
So far, police say the two shootings don't appear to be connected. Details on any suspects in these shootings or connected arrests are not yet available.
While driving to the first shooting, police say that a man was pursuing them in a vehicle and was pointing a firearm at them. Officers made contact with 41-year-old Eric Hart. Hart was arrested for felony menacing, obstruction of a firefighter, and reckless driving. The firearm was found to be a realistic-looking BB gun.
If anyone has any information about these shootings, police ask that you contact the Colorado Springs Police Department at (719) 444-7000, or the Crime Stoppers Tip Line at (719) 634- STOP (7867) if you wish to be anonymous.
This is a developing story.
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