What happened

Early Tuesday, Denver police apprehended a suspect who had forcibly entered the Colorado Supreme Court building and exchanged gunfire with officers.

Why it matters

The incident draws attention amidst a high-profile case where the state’s Supreme Court disqualified former President Donald Trump from the Colorado Republican primary ballot due to his alleged involvement in the January 6, 2021 insurrection.

Context

Following the disqualification of Trump, the Colorado Supreme Court has surged into the national spotlight. The case has now escalated to an appeal before the US Supreme Court. Although no link between the break-in and the Trump disqualification case has been established by authorities, the timing and location have sparked conversations on potential motivations.

Details of the incident

The intrusion occurred shortly after 1 a.m. when the suspect opened fire on responding officers at the Ralph L. Carr Colorado Judicial Center. Officers managed to arrest the suspect without returning fire, approximately two hours following the initial encounter. During the incident, a small fire, extinguished by the building’s sprinkler system, was also discovered by the police. The cause of the fire and the means of entry by the suspect remain undisclosed.

The aftermath

No injuries were reported after the break-in, and the motive behind the suspect’s actions remains unknown. The Denver Police Department has yet to make further comments regarding the suspect’s intentions or the specific circumstances of the break-in.

Fast Facts:

• Suspect arrested after an armed intrusion and gunfire at the Colorado Supreme Court building.
• Incident linked to no injuries, minor fire damage controlled by sprinkler system.
• No connection established between the break-in and the current Trump disqualification case handled by the court.

This story was first published on jpost.com.