Parents and children react to deadly shooting before a youth football game in Colorado Springs

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV) – Police tell 11 News they are still working through the details and trying to nail a suspect, but say the suspect is still out there. 11 News spoke with people who said they witnessed it all and were traumatized by what happened Saturday afternoon.

“I was actually playing a soccer game and I heard four gunshots,” said witness Kai Coutee.

A nightmare scenario unfolded Saturday afternoon as dozens of people gathered on the Atlas Middle School soccer field. The game was interrupted by gunfire and one man was killed.

“He was about to take aim and then everyone, all the kids, just ran away,” said Kaiden, who witnessed the event.

According to police, two people were fighting in the parking lot when one man pulled out a gun and shot the other, a 29-year-old man. He died at the scene of the accident.

“The shooter was looking at the children,” Kaiden’s mother, Jennifer, recalled.

“And told the children – what did he tell you?” she asked her son.

“He said, ‘Stay there. Stay where you are.' He pulled out his gun, walked up to the guy and shot him five times,” Kaiden said.

Police at the scene told 11 News it did not appear to be a random shooting and the two people involved in the argument were the only people involved. Witnesses said they saw the fight and watched the suspect leave after the shooting.

“I mean, that’s not acceptable,” Jennifer said. “Our children will remember this for the rest of their lives.”

Police say they are working to obtain more information about the shooting and have not yet made any arrests. Parents 11 News spoke to said this was frightening for their families.

“My 11-year-old can’t even process this. “He saw a man take a bullet in the chest, see him bleed, and see him fall, and he’s just devastated,” Jennifer said.

Brienney Stroh, CEO of Atlas Schools, says Atlas rents out their space and released a statement saying, “While this occurred on Atlas property, neither Atlas nor any of its students were involved or affected.”

This is an ongoing investigation. Police are asking anyone with information to call.

Organizers of the youth soccer game, Pikes Peak Pop Warner Little Scholars, sent 11 News a statement that said in part:

“This situation had nothing to do with our teams; These were two people with previous personal problems who don’t have children in our league.”

They further say: “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims.”

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