Updated on December 28, 2022 at 3:48 in the afternoon.
Local authorities have identified Susanna Melissa Martinez, 44, and Noah Enoch Apodaca, 46, as the deceased individuals in an apparent murder-suicide and attempted arson at the Jehovah’s Witness Kingdom Hall in Thornton on Sunday.
According to a statement from Thornton Police, there were no reported injuries and firefighters and the Adams County Sheriff were unable to locate a suspect. Shortly after, Apodaca left the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 68 with what seemed to be a bucket, following a brief visit around 8:45 a.M. On Sunday, and a loud explosion was heard.
Police authorities stated that it was at this particular moment when Apodaca proceeded to shoot and fatally wound Martinez, along with taking his own life. Subsequently, after discarding the devices, both Apodaca and Martinez exited the vehicle. Following this, Apodaca proceeded to forcefully break the window and hurl three explosive devices, with one resembling the bucket-like explosive that was utilized at the IBEW Local 68 establishment. A subsequent investigation later unveiled that Apodaca had instructed Martinez to drive a black pickup truck towards a window of the place of worship. Then, at approximately 9 a.M., The Thornton Police swiftly responded to a fire that had broken out at Kingdom Hall. Upon arrival, they discovered that Apodaca had fatally shot Martinez prior to taking his own life.
None of the devices at Thornton Hall in the United Kingdom were detonated, however, it seems that one device started a fire that was extinguished by one of the two people in the building at the scheduled time of the first meeting of the day, which was 9:30 a.M.
Authorities later discovered all three “fire-causing devices,” and they were “made harmless and gathered.”
According to authorities, police in Thornton served a search warrant at the house of Martinez’s and Apodaca in Westminster, where they found organized and labeled personal items as well as materials for making a bomb.
Police Thornton said that the attacks were a result of personal issues that Apodaca had with his employer, the couple’s own Kingdom Hall.
Police report that Apodaca and Martinez were formerly part of the Jehovah’s Witnesses group but were deemed unwelcome. Officials state that the evening prior to the assault, Apodaca had shown a desire to rejoin the congregation during a conversation with a fellow member.
There may have been earlier warning signs of violence.
He allegedly made threatening comments towards his wife and the union representative to a representative from the labor union. According to court documents, Apodaca was terminated from his position at Sturgeon Electric Co. In June 2021. Subsequently,
The court filings recounted a conversation with the representative of the union, who was asked for a court order protection against Sturgeon by a representative of Dec. 2021 in Apodaca.
Electronic court documents did not clarify whether the protective order was approved.
Only law enforcement or members of the household and family are eligible to submit ERPO petitions. The purchase of new firearms is prohibited during this period. Moreover, individuals are prohibited from acquiring any additional firearms. If an ERPO is granted, a person may be compelled by a judge to surrender their firearms for a duration of one year or more. Consequently, his ability to possess guns could have been revoked. However, there is no documented evidence of anyone attempting to file an Extreme Risk Protection Order against Apodaca. Furthermore,
The representatives of the Adams County Sheriff’s Office and the Thornton Police Department were requested to respond immediately. It is uncertain whether law enforcement officials were aware of the incident that occurred in 2021.
In November 2022, authorities in Adams County attempted to take firearms from only one individual, based on data from 2020. These cases, known as “red flag” petitions under the instituted ERPO law, are rare.
The 2021 incident involving Apodaca was initially reported by The Denver Post.
The request for a comment to declined Sturgeon’s representative. IBEW Local 68, which was named in the court case as Apodaca’s union, did not immediately respond.
The identities of Martinez and Apodaca, whose cause of death is still under investigation, were released by the Office of the County Adams Coroner. Apodaca was previously charged in 2002 with a felony theft case, which was dismissed after he pleaded not guilty in court records.
Tony Gorman made a contribution to this report.
Editor’s note: The headline has been updated to reflect that the couple in the murder-suicide was no longer one of Jehovah’s Witnesses.