GUNMAN KILLED AFTER ATTACKING WORSHIPPERS

Gunman killed after opening fire at church

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CNN) -- A gunman attacked worshippers at a Colorado Springs, Colorado, megachurch Sunday afternoon, killing one person and wounding four others before being killed by a security staff member, the city's police chief said.

Emergency vehicles gather near New Life Church in Colorado Springs on Sunday.

Chief Richard Myers called the person "a courageous security staff member who probably saved many lives today."

He said some of the shooting victims being treated at the hospital have life-threatening injuries.

Several "suspicious devices" were found at the church, Myers said.

SWAT teams were clearing the multiple buildings at New Life Church, along with an explosives unit, he said.

Rev. Brady Boyd, senior pastor of New Life Church, said the church had a security plan in place.

"I'm proud of the way our team responded today," he said. "Many, many lives were saved because of the quick action of some committed volunteers at our church." Watch as a church member describes what he saw »

Police know neither the motive for the attack nor of any relationship between the suspect and the victims.

Police spokesman Lt. Fletcher Howard said area businesses were placed on lockdown after the shooting "to make sure there's not any other suspects at large."

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The shooting occurred about 12 hours after a shooting at a missionary training center in Arvada, outside Denver, Colorado, left two people dead and two wounded. The gunman in that incident was still at large Sunday afternoon.

There was no known connection between the two incidents Sunday afternoon, Howard said, but he did not rule out that possibility. Arvada and Colorado Springs are about 80 miles apart.

New Life Church is on the northwestern outskirts of Colorado Springs, near the U.S. Air Force Academy. The non-denominational church claims a membership of more than 10,000.

The church was founded by the Rev. Ted Haggard, an evangelical Christian leader who was ousted in 2006 after allegations that he had been a client of a male prostitute from whom he had purchased drugs. Haggard admitted to undisclosed "sexual immorality" and called himself "a deceiver and a liar" in a letter to the congregation.

Marrapodi contributed to this report.

Source: http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/12/09/church.shooting/?iref=hpmostpop