Colorado Court Shooting Suspect Faces Trial
TL/DR –
A man, identified as Brandon Olsen, is accused of firing gunshots inside the Colorado Supreme Court building and causing significant damage. He reportedly shot out a window to gain entry, forcibly took keys from a security guard, fired shots inside, and set a fire in a stairwell. Although the incident occurred after a state Supreme Court ruling against former President Donald Trump, an investigation confirmed a high probability that the incident is not connected to threats against justices.
Man Accused of Colorado Supreme Court Shooting Appears in Court
The man accused of firing gunshots inside the Colorado Supreme Court building was in court on Wednesday, with a judge setting his bail at $100,000, citing the defendant’s disturbing behavior during the incident.
Circumstances Around the Shooting
The incident occurred early Tuesday when a man who fled a two-car accident scene shot a window of the Ralph L. Carr Colorado Judicial Center and entered the building, according to Denver’s news release. The man allegedly took keys from an unarmed security guard, fired shots inside the building, and set a fire in a stairwell.
Shooting Connection to Recent Court Rulings
This break-in followed a state Supreme Court ruling against former President Donald Trump’s eligibility for office. However, investigations indicate a high likelihood that the incident was not connected to recent threats against justices.
Suspect in Custody
Denver police identified the accused as Brandon Olsen, 44, who surrendered at the scene two hours post the vehicle crash. Olsen hasn’t been formally charged and was initially held without bail. It’s not clear if Olsen has legal representation. His first court hearing took place Wednesday morning, as per online jail records, facing charges of first-degree arson, aggravated robbery, and second-degree burglary, all felonies.
Incident Not Related to Recent Court Rulings
Two weeks before the break-in, the court ruled 4-3 to remove Trump from the state’s 2024 ballot, finding him ineligible to hold office under the 14th Amendment’s “insurrectionist ban.” However, authorities do not believe the decision and the break-in are related.
Situation Inside the Building During the Break-In
The downtown building, housing the state’s Supreme Court and other judicial agencies, had only two people when the man broke in during the overnight hours. The security guard was held at gunpoint by the suspect while trying to open a door, according to the affidavit. Another person in the building, a woman working in an office, left when she heard the fire alarm and did not witness the shooting or fire.
No one was injured during the incident, but the building suffered “significant and extensive damage,” said the police.
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