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UPDATE: CSU religious org. leaders comment on memo from police about threats to local churches

Update, 4 p.m.

Phil Mayhoffer, president of the Latter Day Saint Student Association at CSU said the group received the memo from Fort Collins police and were notified of it yesterday before their worship services.
Mayhoffer said they have taken some precautions since receiving the memo.
“We’ve had members of our church patrol around the building during our worship service to be on the look out for any suspicious activity and we’ve been notified to contact Sgt. Wood with the Fort Collins police department if we see the guy who has threatened, or his vehicle,” Mayhoffer said.

Update Mon. July 29, 12 p.m.

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In an email to the Collegian, Josh Applegate, director of campus ministry for Blessed John XXIII University Parish, commented on the memo from Fort Collins police.

“We received the memo on Friday, July 26th. Ram Catholic operates within Blessed John XXIII University Parish as well as the Archdiocese of Denver. The Archdiocese is aware of the threats. We have alerted the pastors in the Archdiocese and are in contact with local authorities. There was an announcement made at many of the masses this past weekend. While I do not wish to impose my personal opinion on whether this individual possesses a significant threat to Ram Catholic — I will state that we are called to love all people — even those who wish to inflict harm on humanity or us. This command, given by Christ, is not thrown out the window at some passing threat. If harm comes to us while we are loving humanity — there is nothing to fear — for Jesus Christ has conquered death.”

ORIGINAL STORY

Fort Collins Police Services sent out a memo to local religious organizations after receiving information on July 24 from partner agencies in the state of Colorado about possible threats against Fort Collins churches from an individual.

The suspect is described as a white male in his thirties, approximately 6 feet tall and 185 pounds, with brown hair, a full beard and green eyes, according to Matt Johnson, acting public information officer for FCPS. The suspect had been seen wearing dark glasses, face coverings and a towel on his head, Johnson said.

Johnson said the suspect specifically mentioned the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and the Catholic Church in his threats. Johnson did not have a list of specific churches the memo was sent to, but said FCPS was willing to share the information with any religious organization.

“We are grateful for the notification from the Fort Collins Police department about the potential threat to our buildings and members,” said Bob Morain, a public affairs representative for the LDS church, and a local Fort Collins resident. “We have received no specific threat at this time, but will follow the advice of local law enforcement to remain vigilant in the coming days.”

While Johnson said police received no specific threat toward any Fort Collins church, they sent the memo out to keep churches  in the community safe after learning that the suspect was seen in Estes Park.

According to Johnson, the suspect’s car is described as a white Honda Coup with several spray-painted black items on the vehicle, including the phrase “REV 14-7,” possibly in reference to the Book of Revelations in the Bible, the symbol “YHVH” on the back bumper, possibly in reference to the Hebrew word for God or deity, and the phrase “F*** DHS” on the top of the trunk.

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“I won’t say it’s in reference to the Department of Homeland Security, but that’s the acronym for the Department of Homeland Security,” Johnson said.

Johnson said this is not FCPS’s investigation, but the information was shared with them by partner agencies to keep the Fort Collins community safe.

This story is developing. Stay with the Collegian for updates. 

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