Charleston shootings reminiscent of 2007 local tragedy
The recent fatal shootings at a church in Charleston, South Carolina, bring to mind a similar shooting at a Colorado Springs church nearly eight years ago.
In December of 2007 at New Life Church, sisters Stephanie and Rachel Works were killed by Matthew Murray when he opened fire in the parking lot. Three other people, including the girls’ father, were injured.
Earlier that morning in Arvada, Murray shot four others, killing two, at the Youth With a Mission training center. Authorities said the center denied Murray’s request to spend the night there.
Jeanne Assam, a New Life security guard and former Minneapolis police officer, shot Murray, who later died. Now living in Denver and pursuing other career opportunities, she reflected on both tragedies.
“The people of Charleston should not blame themselves,” Assam said. “I hope they don’t. Tragedies like this can tear families apart. But we can’t let them. We have to stay strong together. Get angry. Don’t be afraid.”
Assam said every church should have armed, trained security guards on duty.
“And not just someone who has a gun or has a permit,” she said. “Shooting a paper target is not the same as shooting an armed suspect who poses a threat.”
Assam wrote a book about her experience and was hailed as a hero but said she has moved on after the shooting left her with post-traumatic stress disorder.
“I’m a lot better now,” she said. “I’ve been working with a team of professionals on a very large-scale project that will help protect people in a much bigger way than I ever did as a police officer in a squad car.”
Laurie Works lost her two sisters in the 2007 shooting. Her family was getting in the car when Murray open fired.
“There was this bang and at first I thought it was a balloon and that was my first instinct. And my dad looked over and saw the shooter and said to get down, someone is shooting at us,” said Works.
She thumbed through photos of her sisters she keeps close on Thursday. She said she thinks about them every single day and still has nightmares about the incident.
She said her heart breaks for South Carolina families who are now living through the same horror.
“To hear someone experienced what I did and experienced it because of race was, I mean, I was heartbroken and angry. I am still heartbroken and angry. I would never want anyone to experience the terror that I felt,” said Works.
She said families that survive experiences like this are impacted forever.
“It still affected me and it’s been seven and a half years and I would just never wish that on anyone,” said Works.
