COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- The suspect has been identified as 60-year-old Ernest Schmidt. Police officers said he is armed and dangerous, and anyone with information on his whereabouts should contact them. Officers said he may also go by the name Edward Coffey, posing as a 47-year-old.
Schmidt is wanted on first degree and attempted first degree murder charges, as well as aggravated robbery and second degree kidnapping charges.
The El Paso County Coroner's Office has completed an autopsy on the man who died and said it was a homicide, with the cause of death being a gunshot wound.
The second victim remains in critical condition at a local hospital. The victims' names will not be released until the families have been notified.
This is the 14th homicide in Colorado Springs this year. There were 13 at this time last year.
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Original story:
The Colorado Springs Police Department is searching for an at-large suspect in connection with a fatal shooting at the Auto Zone near Palmer Park and Powers Boulevard.
Police said the male suspect attempted to rob the store Wednesday night.
Officials received a call for shots fired at the scene around 8 p.m.
When officers arrived, they found a deceased man in the parking lot. His identity has not been released.
Police also found another victim inside the store, who suffered at least one gunshot wound.
That victim was still alive and was transported to Memorial Hospital for immediate surgery.
Their condition is unknown at this time.
Following the shooting, the suspect carjacked a man in the parking lot of Auto Zone, took him hostage and fled the scene.
According to police, the suspect released the hostage a short time later at the Village Inn parking lot located on Palmer Park and Academy.
He was not harmed.
Police described the suspect as a white man in his 40's with a close cut haircut, wearing blue jeans, a dark t-shirt and a black hat.
The investigation is ongoing.
Auto Zone shooting scene:
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