Court documents reveal what led up to a shooting by a Colorado Springs church

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- A man faces multiple charges after a reported shooting by a Colorado Springs church. Now, newly-obtained court documents reveal the moments that led up to the shooting and how bystanders were able to prevent deaths.

An affidavit of probable cause says on Sunday, October 16 around 4 p.m., shots started ringing out near Church at Briargate in north Colorado Springs.

Witnesses tell police they were attending a function at the church when a woman burst through the doors screaming ‘my husband is trying to kill me.’

That woman was Angela Hackler, who was running from James Hackler - her husband of 30 years.

With Angela brought inside to safety, some men from the church ran outside to check on the suspect. But as they got up to his silver pickup truck, they realized someone had already gotten there first. 

As it turns out, two young men who were playing in an adult soccer league at a field across the street heard the shots and ran over to help. 

The two were able to detain Hackler and even remove a revolver from his truck. All this, despite telling police they had seen that he had a large amount of ammunition on the front seat that they could've been killed with.

A few moments later, more help arrived from the church, forming a group of 6 to 8 people who then pinned Hackler to the ground until police arrived. 

The entire time, a witness says Hackler was making comments to them that didn't make sense. 

When police asked Hackler’s wife why he was trying to shoot her, she replied: ‘because he was angry.’ She also told them they got into an argument in the truck before the shooting, but she believes his behavior is affected by the medication he takes for anxiety, and he wasn't trying to hurt her.

Hackler is now facing an attempted murder charge and a charge for prohibited use of weapons.