COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- After five days on the run, the suspect in a deadly shooting at a Colorado Springs AutoZone has been caught.
Colorado Springs Police arrested 60-year-old Ernest Schmidt, also known as Edward Coffey, Monday morning in the area of Afternoon Circle and Fountain Boulevard.
Schmidt is accused of shooting and killing one person, and injuring another at the AutoZone near Palmer Park Boulevard and N. Powers Boulevard Wednesday night.
Police said he also carjacked a vehicle, and took a hostage who was later released.
After he was spotted Monday, Schmidt lead police on a foot pursuit that went through the Valley Hi Golf Course and ended in a nearby neighborhood.
Several witnesses saw the events unfold.
"We were getting close to the green, and all of a sudden we saw a policeman and another policeman running behind our green outside the fence, and then another policeman yelling behind us to get down," witness Gary Montel said.
After that Montel said he looked up and saw the suspect running toward the Satellite Motel.
He said it was only a few minutes later when he saw police arrest Schmidt.
"We were lucky I think to get through there without him having a weapon, and not having any guns going off," Montel said. "We are thankful everyone is safe."
Residents who live near the golf couse and Satellite Motel were also counting their blessings.
One woman saw the whole ordeal unfold just feet away from her home.
"The policemen from the east and west converged on him and got him down to the ground, and I recognized him right away," witness Brenda Sharp said.
Sharp and her neighbors have a watch system in place, and said they keep a close eye on each other.
One reason Sharp said she is having a hard time with the thought that a dangerous suspect was "right under their nose."
"It was a concern that he was probably held up somewhere over here for the last few days," Sharp said. "He was running around and could have hurt somebody else."
Police said Schmidt has been charged with first degree murder, attempted first degree murder, aggravated robbery, and second degree kidnapping.
They said his wife, 35-year-old Dawn Morgan, was also arrested and charged with accessory to first degree murder.
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Original Story:
The man who allegedly shot two men, killing one outside an Auto Zone store in Colorado Springs Wednesday evening has been arrested and charged with murder, according to police.
The suspect, 60-year-old Ernest Schmidt, was arrested after police chased him a short distance across Valley Hi Golf Course in the southeast part of the city Monday morning. Officers located him in the area of Afternoon Circle and Fountain Boulevard.
Schmidt, who also goes by 47-year-old Edward Coffey, was identified by police as the suspect Thursday.
According to Colorado Springs Police officers, Schmidt shot and killed a man in the parking lot of the Auto Zone on the northwest corner of Palmer Park Boulevard and Powers Boulevard Wednesday. He then shot a second man inside the store, who is still in the hospital.
Following the shootings, Schmidt stole a car in the parking lot and took a person hostage, releasing him near Palmer Park and Academy Boulevard. He ditched the car at Maizeland Road and Academy.
Schmidt's wife, 36-year-old Dawn Morgan, was also arrested.
Schmidt is being charged with first degree murder, attempted first degree murder, aggravated robbery and second degree kidnapping. Morgan is being charged with accessory to first degree murder.
Police have not released details of Morgan's involvement, nor have they released the names of the victims.
The investigation is ongoing, and officers do not have any additional information.
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