Expert: NoCo shooter likely escalating criminal past

Criminologist Don Lindley thinks the person or people responsible for three unsolved shootings in Northern Colorado is likely escalating a criminal past.

Lindley is a longtime professor at Regis University in Denver with a doctorate in criminology whose studies include serial killers and homicides. In a candid interview with the Coloradoan, Lindley called for people to arm themselves — with information as much as a weapon — as the area law enforcement continue to investigate the three shootings that may be linked.

Lindley, who worked in various law-enforcement roles in Denver for 35 years, is unabashed in his belief that properly trained and educated people should be armed.

"I know a lot of citizens have this belief that just because they are a nice person that no one will hurt them. That's not true. We are all very vulnerable," he said. "If we are going to be in charge of our own safety, we need to have our own tools to protect our safety."

He also provided his insight into the potential characteristics of the person or persons responsible as a task force composed of local law enforcement and the FBI investigate the fatal shootings of John Jacoby and Bill Connole, and the shooting of Cori Romero as she drove Interstate 25 near Fort Collins in April.

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Coloradoan: What kind of person commits these sorts of crimes?

Lindley: This person is the antithesis of the vast majority of people. This person has no personal worth, doesn't see themselves as contributing to society, lacks empathy and is glib. It doesn't matter to this person who they harm, injure or attack. These are crimes of opportunity and it doesn't matter if these people would have been a priest or nun, they would have been shot.

Coloradoan: Do you think these acts are from one person or more than one?

Lindley: Maybe they (law enforcement) have the evidence to refute it, but I think there is a copycat, and if not there will be a copycat. There is what is called the tipping point phenomenon. There are marginalized people in our society who struggle and who incidents like these shootings pushes them over the edge.

Coloradoan: When will the shooter strike again?

Lindley: It's not easy to predict. Maybe they will feel the heat from law enforcement and cool things for a while. They may stop, but these types of people usually don't stop. Whether one person or a copycat, they will not wait very long to do it again. I think this person will do it until they get arrested.

Coloradoan: If it is true that vehicle windows are being shattered from a shooter, do you believe the same person or persons are shooting windows as shooting people?

Lindley: My guess is that it is not the same person or people.

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Coloradoan: Do you believe the shooter(s) has a prior arrest?

Lindley: Guarantee there is something in their past. You don't minimize your criminal activity; you escalate it.

You don't just start out killing someone. You don't start out as a sexual predator. You start out as a peeping tom then progress to a sexual predator.

This person probably has been arrested as a juvenile. They probably have been arrested for criminal mischief, burglary, assault and are involved in drugs and alcohol and maybe even have traffic tickets.

Coloradoan: The public is clamoring for more information from the task force concerning details of the investigation. Why don't they give the public more information?

Lindley: I have never agreed with that. I think they need to be forthcoming. But these cops are doing everything they can do, but people don't think they are because they don't say anything or very little. They are talking to or looking for witnesses, creating the profile and looking at ballistics.

Coloradoan: Will or how will they solve this?

Lindley: They will find this guy or guys, probably through forensic evidence.

Coloradoan: How do we avoid these type of incidents?

Lindley: It's all reactive instead of preventative. We have these events, then identify the person and arrest them.

We should be working with and paying attention more to our youth. If we don't, we will continue to live with the results. The reason that doesn't happen is because we want immediate results. It's easier to write a parking ticket rather than inform the citizen that they are parking illegally and to take care of the situation.

Northern Colorado shootings

•April 22 non-fatal shooting of 21-year-old Cori Romero of Milliken while driving at Harmony Road and Interstate 25 around 11 p.m.

•May 18 fatal shooting of Windsor resident John Jacoby, 47, while biking on a rural road in north Windsor, presumably between 9:30 and 10:30 a.m.

•June 3 fatal shooting of Loveland resident Bill Connole, 65, near East First Street and St. Louis Avenue in Loveland at 10:52 p.m.