A radical Muslim who was accused of killing a Denver transit officer execution-style on Tuesday night was on the national terror watch list and had been kicked out of a mosque in Texas for “unspecified conduct.”
Conservative Tribune reported that 56-year-old Scott Von Lanken was talking to two women in the Colorado city’s Lower Downtown section when he was approached by a man who pointed a gun to Von Lanken’s neck. Witnesses said the man had a swollen face and “weird looking eyes.” After telling Von Lanken to do what he was told, he shot him in the neck.
The gunman was arrested 20 minutes later and was identified as Joshua Cummings, 37. KMGH-TV reported that the gunman’s “erratic behavior had caught the attention of federal investigators. Sources said Cummings came to the attention of the FBI after being involved in some sort of altercation in a Texas mosque.”
Sources have described Cummings as a “radical terrorist,” and “jihadist materials” were found in his backpack.
Cummings joined the army in 1997 and rose to the rank of sergeant before his time in the service ended in 2002. Afterwards, he worked in the oil industry before devoting full time to his jiu-jitsu school.
Von Lanken was a former police officer who went to Bible College and became an ordained pastor. He had taken a contract job for Denver’s transit authority just to bring his family some money.
Members of Denver Police’s motorcycle unit roll out from 16th & Wynkoop, leaving a sign and flowers as memorial for shooting victim pic.twitter.com/TvxBFRPCWy
— Jason Gruenauer (@JGonTV) February 1, 2017
Please send your thoughts and prayers to Von Lanken’s family!
