Crosses to honor lives lost in shootings

A local organization delivered crosses Sunday tothe homes of victims of shootings in Black Forest.

There were two shootings on Timberlane Court and another on Burrows Road Saturday. Two people were killed, another person was critically injured. The names of the victims haven’t been released yet.

The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office arrested 46-year-old Kenneth Lankford early Sunday morning. Lankford is a person of interest in the case. KRDO NewsChannel 13 contacted the sheriff’s office for more information about the arrest and the investigation. The sheriff’s office did not return any of the phone calls.

The days ahead are difficult for people who knew the victims as neighbors and friends. Crosses for Losses paired up with AspenPointe to offer grief counseling for the Black Forest Community. Crosses for Losses helps get fire victims the tools they need to rebuild. AspenPointe offers mental and behavioral health services.

Lankford lost his home during the Black Forest Fire in June.

“It sounds and seems like everything can just compound so quickly and they don’t necessarily have the idea of going and getting that help,” said Crosses for Losses’ Amanda Davis.

“We don’t want this to be the straw that breaks the camel’s back,” said counselor Karen Hilborn. “Grief runs deeper than we might have thought.”

Crosses for Losses also built crosses for the two victims who died in the shootings. The crosses were made from wood that survived the Black Forest Fire. Davis said her neighborhood was shaken by the tragedies. Now, her neighborhoodis mourning the loss of some of its own.

“(The crosses are) to let them (the family)know there is love and support coming from all the community,” said Davis.