COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — A man who suffered minor injuries in the fatal shootings at New Life Church was escorted off church grounds by police a week later because New Life officials thought he was “volatile” and might be disruptive.
Larry Bourbonnais, 59, left peacefully after he arrived Sunday to attend a service, police said.
“We felt he was a bit volatile this morning, and we did not want any disruption to our service,” Senior Pastor Brady Boyd said.
Bourbonnais suffered minor injuries to his arm when Matthew Murray opened fire on Dec. 9, killing two and injuring two others besides Bourbonnais. Earlier in the day,
Murray shot and killed two other people and wounded two more at a Youth With a Mission missionary training center in the Denver suburb of Arvada, police said.
Murray killed himself with a gunshot to his head after he was shot and wounded by volunteer security guard at New Life.
Bourbonnais told KRDO-TV in Colorado Springs that New Life officials were unhappy over his criticism of another security guard whom Bourbonnais said would not confront the gunman.
“They said I denigrated the security staff and made them look bad,” Bourbonnais said.
Police said Bourbonnais left the grounds peacefully.
“He cooperated, and we told him that he wasn’t welcome back on the property,” police Sgt. Lonnie Spanswick said.
Boyd said church officials would contact Bourbonnais to try to reach an “amicable” resolution. He didn’t elaborate.
Boyd said security had been beefed up for Sunday’s services and would remain that way for a while.
“We thought it was important for families and moms and dads that when they dropped their kids off in our childrens ministry or our nursery or our junior high ministry, they saw a uniformed police officer,” Boyd said.
• Original title: Man hurt in church attacks is told to leave grounds a week later