The campus is closed on Friday, November 8, due to inclement winter weather.
Campus Closed Due to Winter Storm
Campus is closed on Thursday, November 7 due to inclement winter weather. UCCS plans to resume normal operations on Friday, November 8, but we are closely monitoring the ongoing winter weather event. If a delay or closure is necessary for Friday, a separate alert will be issued.
Hiking Trail Closures
UCCS is working on a wildfire mitigation project with CSFD. Starting around March 4 they will be working on the trail areas at the top of the bluff (see map for section 6). Trails in these areas will be marked (see attached) and they will be closed.
CSFD has been working on section 1. Eventually they will move to sections 3 and 4 – the timing of this is uncertain.
Please observe all warning signs and stay off closed trails.
If you have questions, please reach out to [email protected]
To access the above PDF in a separate tab please click here.
Parents and Friends
We encourage parents and friends to utilize the UCCSSafe App to receive emergency notification alerts sent out by the campus. The app can be downloaded from either the apple store or google play.
2/19/24 UCCS Incident Update: Suspect Named
Dear UCCS Community,
Jennifer SobanetChancellor
The Colorado Springs Police Department has shared the name of the suspect they took into custody in connection to their investigation of the shooting that took place on our campus Friday morning. The suspect was enrolled at UCCS at the time of the shooting. I am including their announcement in full below.
I would like to once again extend my thanks to the Colorado Springs Police Department for their efforts, as well as the UCCS Police Department and everyone across campus who have stepped up to help during our incident response.
We will continue to work closely alongside CSPD as they proceed with their investigation.
On Friday, February 16, 2024, at approximately 5:59 AM, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) Police Department received a call of shots fired coming from Crestone House, a dormitory located on the campus. UCCS PD Officers located the room shots originated from and located an adult female and an adult male deceased. The Colorado Springs Police Department received a call for assistance, resulting in the CSPD Homicide Unit assuming responsibility for the investigation.
Late in the evening on Friday, February 16, 2024, the Homicide Unit obtained an arrest warrant for the charges of two counts of Murder in the First Degree for 25-year-old Nicholas Jordan of Detroit, Michigan. Since the warrant was signed, the CSPD’s Violent Offender Fugitive Task Force has been actively looking for Mr. Jordan.
On Saturday, February 17, 2024, the El Paso County Coroner’s Office conducted an autopsy of the deceased female and male. The female was identified as 26-year-old Celie Rain Montgomery of Pueblo, CO. The male was identified as 24-year-old Samuel Knopp of Parker, CO. While the Coroner’s Office will determine the cause and manner of death, Ms. Montgomery and Mr. Knopp’s deaths are being investigated as homicides.
On Monday, February 19, 2024, at approximately 7:52 AM, members of the Colorado Springs Police Department’s Motor Vehicle Theft Unit located Mr. Jordan in a vehicle. At approximately 8:37 AM, the CSPD’s Tactical Enforcement Unit responded and took Mr. Jordan into custody without incident in the 4900 block of Cliff Point Circle East in Colorado Springs.
This is still an active investigation, and anyone with information or who is a witness to this investigation is asked to call the Colorado Springs Police Department at (719) 444-7000; or if you wish to remain anonymous, you may contact the Crime Stoppers Tip Line at (719) 634-STOP (7867) or 1-800-222-8477.
Thank you all for your compassion and support during this incredibly difficult time.
Jennifer SobanetChancellor
2/19/24: UCCS incident update
Dear UCCS Community,
The Colorado Springs Police Department has shared that they have taken a suspect into custody in connection to their investigation of the shooting that took place on our campus Friday morning. I am including that announcement in full below.
I would like to express my deepest gratitude for the tireless work of the Colorado Springs Police Department and the UCCS Police Department. We will continue to work closely alongside CSPD as the investigation continues to unfold.
CSPD has reiterated that investigative efforts so far continue to indicate this is an isolated incident between parties that were known to one another and not a random attack against the school or other students at the university.
On Monday morning, February 19, 2024, members of the Colorado Springs Police Department took a suspect into custody in connection to our investigation into the homicides of 24-year-old Samuel Knopp and 26-year-old Celie Rain Montgomery.
Investigative efforts continue to indicate this was an isolated incident between individuals who were known to one another and not a random attack against the school or other students at the university.
We will be releasing more details about the suspect and charges later today.
The university will continue to share information as we are able.
I appreciate your continued patience, understanding and support of one another as we begin to process together as a campus.
In solidarity,
Jennifer Sobanet Chancellor
The Colorado Springs Police Department has shared that they have taken a suspect into custody in connection to their investigation of the shooting that took place on our campus Friday morning. I am including that announcement in full below.
I would like to express my deepest gratitude for the tireless work of the Colorado Springs Police Department and the UCCS Police Department. We will continue to work closely alongside CSPD as the investigation continues to unfold.
CSPD has reiterated that investigative efforts so far continue to indicate this is an isolated incident between parties that were known to one another and not a random attack against the school or other students at the university.
On Monday morning, February 19, 2024, members of the Colorado Springs Police Department took a suspect into custody in connection to our investigation into the homicides of 24-year-old Samuel Knopp and 26-year-old Celie Rain Montgomery.
Investigative efforts continue to indicate this was an isolated incident between individuals who were known to one another and not a random attack against the school or other students at the university.
We will be releasing more details about the suspect and charges later today.
The university will continue to share information as we are able.
I appreciate your continued patience, understanding and support of one another as we begin to process together as a campus.
In solidarity,
Jennifer Sobanet Chancellor
2/19/24 Incident Update
HEALING RESOURCES
Information can be found here as well as resources for students, faculty, and staff support available now and ongoing.
https://www.uccs.edu/alpine-village-incident
2/18/24: A Message from the Chancellor
Dear Mountain Lions,
The Colorado Springs Police Department has officially released the names of those who were taken from us in the shooting on our campus early Friday morning. I am including that announcement in full below.
As we mourn the loss of Samuel Knopp and Celie Montgomery, my hope is that we will come together as a community, support one another and share in our grief. Please remember that you are not alone.
Sam was a senior studying music and a beloved member of the Visual and Performing Arts department. He was an accomplished guitar player and an extremely talented musician.
Celie, although she was not a student, will be mourned by our campus community.
It is important to me that our community understands that CSPD has said that investigative efforts so far continue to indicate this is an isolated incident between parties that were known to one another and not a random attack against the school or other students at the university.
On Friday, February 16, 2024, at approximately 5:59 AM, the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (UCCS) Police Department received a call of shots fired coming from Crestone House, a dormitory located on the campus. UCCS PD Officers located the room shots originated from and located an adult female and an adult male deceased. The Colorado Springs Police Department received a call for assistance, resulting in the CSPD Homicide Unit assuming responsibility for the investigation.
On Saturday, February 17, 2024, The El Paso County Coroner’s Office conducted an autopsy of the deceased female and male. The female was identified as 26-year-old Celie (See-Lee) Rain Montgomery of Pueblo, CO. The male was identified as 24-year-old Samuel Knopp of Parker, CO. While the Coroner’s Office will determine the cause and manner of death, Ms. Montgomery and Mr. Knopp’s deaths are being investigated as homicides. Mr. Knopp was a registered student at UCCS. Mrs. Montgomery was not a registered student at UCCS.
Since the beginning of this investigation, the primary focus has been on the victims of this tragic incident and pursuing justice for them and their families. This remains an active investigation, which includes detectives continuing to develop additional investigative leads and suspect information. Given this case’s active and fluid nature, additional information about those leads and any potential suspect details will not be released at this time. Investigative efforts so far continue to indicate this is an isolated incident between parties that were known to one another and not a random attack against the school or other students at the university.
Our detectives continue working around the clock, and we have intentionally restricted the amount of information made available to the public during the initial 48 hours of our investigation. Having said that, we have maintained ongoing communication with the families of the victims and collaborated closely with the UCCS Police to ensure that plans were in place for safeguarding the campus community.
While acknowledging the difficulty of the situation and the withholding of information in the initial stages of our investigation, we owe it to the victims and their families to deliver accountability and justice for this horrific act.
We will share the information about memorial services as they become available.
This has been a difficult week with the loss of Mia Brown, another beloved student, on Monday. I know we are all mourning, so please, remember that you are not alone. The entire Mountain Lion community is here to support you.
Tomorrow, we will take our first steps, processing and mourning along our healing journey. I encourage you to set aside time to process the tragic events of this past week, both as an individual and in a group setting.
Classes and regular activities are canceled; however, campus will be open tomorrow and we will be offering several events for our students, faculty and staff: 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.: Student Life Lounge Community Space9 a.m. – 1 p.m.: UC 303 Community Space 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.: MOSAIC Lounge Community Space10 – 11:30 a.m.: Berger Hall Healing Circle 1 – 2 p.m.: Student Life Lounge – Therapy Dogs 2 – 3 p.m.: Solidarity Walk – Roaring Fork to El Pomar Plaza An email with updated details on these events will be distributed tonight.
Please, reach out if you need help. It is the strength of our community, of our bond as Mountain Lions, and our dedication to one another that will rebuild our broken hearts and give us the strength to heal.
In solidarity,
Jennifer SobanetChancellor
The Colorado Springs Police Department has officially released the names of those who were taken from us in the shooting on our campus early Friday morning. I am including that announcement in full below.
As we mourn the loss of Samuel Knopp and Celie Montgomery, my hope is that we will come together as a community, support one another and share in our grief. Please remember that you are not alone.
Sam was a senior studying music and a beloved member of the Visual and Performing Arts department. He was an accomplished guitar player and an extremely talented musician.
Celie, although she was not a student, will be mourned by our campus community.
It is important to me that our community understands that CSPD has said that investigative efforts so far continue to indicate this is an isolated incident between parties that were known to one another and not a random attack against the school or other students at the university.
On Friday, February 16, 2024, at approximately 5:59 AM, the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (UCCS) Police Department received a call of shots fired coming from Crestone House, a dormitory located on the campus. UCCS PD Officers located the room shots originated from and located an adult female and an adult male deceased. The Colorado Springs Police Department received a call for assistance, resulting in the CSPD Homicide Unit assuming responsibility for the investigation.
On Saturday, February 17, 2024, The El Paso County Coroner’s Office conducted an autopsy of the deceased female and male. The female was identified as 26-year-old Celie (See-Lee) Rain Montgomery of Pueblo, CO. The male was identified as 24-year-old Samuel Knopp of Parker, CO. While the Coroner’s Office will determine the cause and manner of death, Ms. Montgomery and Mr. Knopp’s deaths are being investigated as homicides. Mr. Knopp was a registered student at UCCS. Mrs. Montgomery was not a registered student at UCCS.
Since the beginning of this investigation, the primary focus has been on the victims of this tragic incident and pursuing justice for them and their families. This remains an active investigation, which includes detectives continuing to develop additional investigative leads and suspect information. Given this case’s active and fluid nature, additional information about those leads and any potential suspect details will not be released at this time. Investigative efforts so far continue to indicate this is an isolated incident between parties that were known to one another and not a random attack against the school or other students at the university.
Our detectives continue working around the clock, and we have intentionally restricted the amount of information made available to the public during the initial 48 hours of our investigation. Having said that, we have maintained ongoing communication with the families of the victims and collaborated closely with the UCCS Police to ensure that plans were in place for safeguarding the campus community.
While acknowledging the difficulty of the situation and the withholding of information in the initial stages of our investigation, we owe it to the victims and their families to deliver accountability and justice for this horrific act.
We will share the information about memorial services as they become available.
This has been a difficult week with the loss of Mia Brown, another beloved student, on Monday. I know we are all mourning, so please, remember that you are not alone. The entire Mountain Lion community is here to support you.
Tomorrow, we will take our first steps, processing and mourning along our healing journey. I encourage you to set aside time to process the tragic events of this past week, both as an individual and in a group setting.
Classes and regular activities are canceled; however, campus will be open tomorrow and we will be offering several events for our students, faculty and staff: 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.: Student Life Lounge Community Space9 a.m. – 1 p.m.: UC 303 Community Space 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.: MOSAIC Lounge Community Space10 – 11:30 a.m.: Berger Hall Healing Circle 1 – 2 p.m.: Student Life Lounge – Therapy Dogs 2 – 3 p.m.: Solidarity Walk – Roaring Fork to El Pomar Plaza An email with updated details on these events will be distributed tonight.
Please, reach out if you need help. It is the strength of our community, of our bond as Mountain Lions, and our dedication to one another that will rebuild our broken hearts and give us the strength to heal.
In solidarity,
Jennifer SobanetChancellor
Incident Update 2/18/24
Dear UCCS community,
We thank you for your continued patience and understanding as we all process this tragedy together.
The safety of our campus community is always our number one priority, and we understand that it is at the forefront of everyone’s mind as we search for answers, meaning, and information.
We want to assure you that since this incident happened early Friday morning, the safety of our campus community has been and continues to be our top priority. That is why UCCS Police Chief McCarver is taking the lead in working with the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD). We can assure you that if at any point it was determined there was a threat to anyone on campus, the lockdown would not have been lifted.
As mentioned, we have been working with the CSPD 24/7 since the situation unfolded. Their department is the lead on this investigation. As Chief Vasquez said, the Colorado Springs Police Department will do everything they can to bring justice to those who have been taken from us, their families and friends.
We ask for your patience and cooperation as law enforcement continues to investigate this tragedy. As the investigation continues, every bit of helpful information will be shared at the appropriate time. We have been working with the CSPD every step of the way to share as much information with our campus community as we can without compromising the integrity of their investigation.
As we move forward, we will continue to inform the community of any substantial updates as we are able. Our plan for the near future is to communicate at least twice a day to keep our campus community informed. We will provide another update later today.
2/16/24 UCCS Press Conference
Press conference held at UCCS on Friday, February 16 at 2:15 p.m.