Colorado Springs Psychotherapist: Douglas County shooter may have been “disassociated”

A local counselor says the Douglas County shooter may have been “disassociated” and “outside of reality.”

According to University of Wyoming police reports, Matthew Riehl’s mother said he had sought treatment for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder after he was deployed to Iraq in 2009. Another report says he sought treatment for bipolar disorder.

A counselor and psychotherapist in Colorado Springs who’s worked with combat veterans who suffered from PTSD says Matthew Riehl may not have realized how deadly his actions were when he pulled the trigger.

Jeri Sutton-Shores says, “While he planned it, he wasn’t aware of what he was doing.”

She says this happens to vets often when their PTSD is triggered.

Riehl posted dozens of videos on YouTube and live streamed the ambush attack on Douglas County deputies. Sutton-Shores says people like this are, “absolutely impossible to communicate with. Their reason goes completely out the window.”

The gunman’s motive is still unknown.