Remembering The Arvada YMAM Shooting, 14 Years Later

ARVADA, CO — Fourteen years ago, a young man shot and killed two people at Arvada's Youth with a Mission training center and then killed two others at Colorado Springs' New Life Church. Four others were wounded in the shootings.

Matthew John Murray, 24, was then shot by a church member and security volunteer, Jeanne Assam, who is credited with saving many lives.

Thursday marked the 14th anniversary of the shootings.

"A terrible day here in Arvada and in Colorado Springs," Arvada police said in a tweet posted on the anniversary.

"We remember those lives lost and those injured or changed forever."

Tiffany Johnson, the director of hospitality for the Arvada Youth with a Mission training center, was shot and killed with a 9mm handgun on Dec. 9, 2007, authorities said. Philip Crouse, a staff member, was also killed. Dan Griebenow and Charlie Blanch were also shot and injured.

Police searched for Murray, but he was able to get away. He went down to the New Life Church in Colorado Springs, and shot and killed sisters Stephanie and Rachel Works. Their father, David Works, was shot multiple times, but he survived. Judy Purcell and Larry Bourbonnais were injured in the shooting.

Investigators conducted a search warrant on Murray's home, where they found books on homicide, witchcraft, Satanism, the Masons, as well as hundreds of downloads about the Columbine shooting, according to a 2008 report by The Denver Post.

In a news conference after the shooting, Assam didn't credit herself for taking down Murray, she credited God.

"I knew I was given the assignment to end this," she said.