Colorado College Student Found With Loaded Rifle On Campus After Cops Tipped Off He “Liked To Kill People”

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Pueblo, CO – Pueblo County Sheriff’s detectives arrested a Colorado State University Pueblo student Tuesday afternoon after he was found in possession of loaded weapons, including a semi-automatic rifle, and nearly 1,000 rounds of ammunition on the campus grounds.

The following is a news release from the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office:

Pueblo County Sheriff’s deputies recently were alerted of threatening and concerning statements made by a student identified as Robert James Killis, 24.

Robert James Killis, 24

The Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office is the law enforcement agency responsible for the CSU Pueblo campus. Witnesses reported Killis made threats towards the university staff and students. Killis, who has previous military experience, talk about buying body armor, semi-automatic rifles, shotguns and other guns and saying that he liked to kill people.

On Monday, detectives with the sheriff’s office special investigation unit began monitoring Killis, who lives in an on-campus apartment. Detectives located Killis’ 2020 Chevy Silverado on campus and could see in plain view an ammunition box on the floorboard, a bullet proof vest and a case that appeared large enough to hold a rifle or shotgun. The Sheriff’s Office is collaborating with CSU Pueblo officials and local, state and federal law enforcement agencies.

On Tuesday, detectives sought a search warrant for Killis’ truck and his Walking Stick Village apartment. After obtaining the search warrant, detectives, who had been surveilling Killis, followed him to a northside restaurant where he was detained. Detectives waited until Killis was in a safe location away from the campus to make contact with him. CSU Pueblo has strict policy regarding weapons on campus in accordance with state law (Colorado CRS 18-12-105.5). When asked if he was carrying any weapons on his person for officer safety, Killis told deputies he did not have any weapons on him but admitted he had guns in his truck. Detectives executed the search warrant and found a loaded semi-automatic rifle, a shotgun and a handgun. There were also several fully loaded high-capacity magazines set up in a tactical manner along with an ammunition box filled with additional rounds of ammunition. Assorted tactical equipment also was located in the vehicle.

The search warrant executed at Killis’ home by sheriff’s detectives revealed another handgun with approximately 100 rounds of ammunition and other suspicious items. Killis was arrested for unlawful carrying/possessing a weapon on a university campus in accordance with CRS 18-12-105.5 (1). He was booked into the Pueblo County Jail.

No further information will be released at this time as the investigation is ongoing. Pueblo County Sheriff Kirk M. Taylor applauded the teamwork of the detectives and the CSU Pueblo campus community.

“I commend the information coming forward which we acted upon quickly,” said Taylor. “By reporting suspicions to our deputies in a timely manner, we were able to quickly investigate and take this person into custody before any harm could be done.”

“Out of an overabundance of caution, there will be an added law enforcement presence at the university and our deputies will be available to address any concerns from students and faculty,” Taylor said. “We continue to encourage anyone who sees or hears anything suspicious or threatening that involves an educational setting to report it immediately.”

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