Unidentified gunman shot, killed inside Colorado Capitol

"According to Dreyer, before being shot, the man said, "I am the emperor and I'm here to take over state government."

They guy rented a tux just before and told the cashier that today he is to be the emperor !

Capitol gunman carried 20 rounds in pocket

written by: Sara Gandy , Web Producer
updated by: Colleen Locke , Producer created: 7/17/2007 11:20:14 AM
Last updated: 7/17/2007 4:26:43 PM

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The day after being fatally shot, details about the state Capitol gunman are emerging. 9NEWS at noon. 7/17/07




DENVER - The day after the fatal shooting of a gunman at the state Capitol, details about who he was and the life he lived are slow to unfold.

As he walked into the state Capitol on Monday, 32-year-old Aaron Snyder carried a stainless Smith & Wesson and more than 20 rounds in his pocket, sources tell 9NEWS. They also say Snyder was carrying ear muffs in his hand, similar to those worn at a shooting range. He was also carrying a six-inch open bladed hunting knife.

Snyder, who lived with his parents in Thornton, rented a tuxedo Monday morning before going to the state Capitol where he was shot and killed by a member of Governor Ritter's security team.

On Monday, police say, he drove a 2004 black Kia and left it in the 1200 block of Cherokee Street, about a block away from the Denver Police Department, before he evidently walked to the Capitol.

Meanwhile, police were trying to locate Snyder after being contacted by an employee at the tuxedo rental business who was alarmed by what said was disturbing behavior. Police reports show the employee also reported seeing Snyder carrying the gun and the knife, although she told police she was not sure if the weapons were real.

Records show an officer from the Northglenn Police Department went to the family home and talked to Snyder's mother Kathie, who described her son as mentally ill.

According to the police report, "Kathie stated Aaron has been diagnosed as delusional and he has entered the care of a doctor."

At an officer's request, Kathie Snyder tried to call her son on his cell phone, the report shows, but the call went to voicemail.

The officer then put out a teletype to all agencies along the I-25 corridor requesting officers to check Snyder's well-being.

Minutes later, the shooting at the Capitol was reported.

9Wants to Know spoke with a member of Snyder's family who said, "He had his problems. ... I'm sorry for the officer that had to shoot him. My heart's broken for him. I'm heartbroken for the whole situation. I'm just thankful no one else was hurt."

Snyder was a graduate of Horizon High School and according to the Fort Collins Coloradoan he was also a student at Colorado State University.

Recently, Snyder had been interning at Advanced Energy in Fort Collins. The company said he worked in the research and development area for two months since May 14. They did not comment further except to express their condolences and say that any information they have on him has been turned over to the authorities.

On Tuesday, police continued to search the Thornton house where Snyder lived. They also searched the home Monday night.

9Wants to Know has learned that Snyder's parents have hired a lawyer and are not talking to police.

9Wants to Know has also learned that the stainless steel, seven-shot Smith & Wesson .38 gun Snyder was carrying Monday was legal. He had purchased it in April at the Sportsman's Warehouse on I-25 and 84th Avenue in Northglenn.

The Denver Office of the Medical Examiner confirmed Snyder's identity Tuesday afternoon. The Medical Examiner's Office determined Snyder died from multiple gunshot wounds.

Tobie Locke of Mr. Neat's Formal Wear came in contact with Snyder Monday at around 10 a.m. in the Melody Drive store in Northglenn.

Locke described him as nervous and sweating uncontrollably and says he had a gun in a holster in his pocket and a knife in the other.

Locke fitted Snyder for the tuxedo and questioned him about his rental. Snyder told her it was for a "special event" that day.

When she asked what the event was, the employee told 9NEWS he said to her, "Today is the day of the emperor's reign."

She says that "freaked her out." She says Snyder then added, "It starts as soon as I get there."

Locke says she saw the man's ID, which read Aaron Snyder.

About 50 minutes after he left, she contacted police, who notified area officers to be on the lookout for a suspicious person.

At 2:10 p.m., shots were fired at the state Capitol, according to Denver Police. A gunman was shot at four times by a State Trooper outside the lieutenant governor's office where Governor Bill Ritter was interviewing a candidate for a judgeship.

The governor was not injured.

Governor Ritter's Spokesman Evan Dreyer says the gunman refused orders to drop his gun and a member of Ritter's security detail opened fire. Prior to being shot, he said, "I am the emperor and I'm here to take over state government," according to Dreyer.

Prior to the incident, Snyder sent a strange e-mail to one co-worker. 9Wants to Know has learned that in the e-mail Snyder introduces himself as the "emperor of sovereign rule of this nation." He then writes, "Today is the appointed day in which God has chosen for me to begin my reign."

He also writes, "Please keep the emperor's desk free for my use in research and development purposes when I have spare time."

In the day that follows the incident at the state Capitol, security has been increased with the addition of metal detectors among other precautions.

These guys are always killed before they get a chance to talk.

I heard on the radio this morning that he had worked at some energy company in ft. collins and had gotten fired friday and on monday at around 10am went an rented the tux in northglen then drove up to his prior job and i guess had some altercation there at around 1pm, and then he left there and drove to the state capitol where he was killed by police.

I dounbt he rented a tux (unless he thought it would help him get in) its all propaganda to make the patriot look like a nut.

He lost his job to an illegal alien and went to exact revenge on the guilty parties. Had he used all 20 rounds on the pigs it would have lowered their morrall for a while.

I think he said
" The Emperor is coming "

do you have a link to this information?