Police investigating artillery shell taken to Colorado Springs Goodwill store

A Goodwill donation triggers a lot of fear, evacuations and a huge police response.

“We have a number of military veterans working here, in fact, one of them was able to immediately identify this military grade item he saw as potential threat and he took action,” said Assistant Director of Communications Bradd Hafer.

Colorado Springs police said the strange donation was found at Goodwill’s processing plant at 2307 West Colorado Ave. late Friday morning.

The building, several homes and businesses in the area were evacuated.

An explosives team determined the military item donated was an artillery shell.

A military team recovered the item for disposal.

Workers were eventually able to grab their things from inside the store late Friday afternoon.