Police Recover 3 'Suspicious Devices' From Murder-Suicide Site Of Married Couple

Authorities in Colorado recovered three "suspicious devices" after a married couple died in an apparent murder-suicide at a Jehovah's Witnesses Kingdom Hall in Thornton.

The husband shot and killed his wife before turning the gun on himself at around 9 a.m. on Christmas Day, the Thronton Police Department said in a news release. The victim and her husband were former members of the Kingdom Hall congregation, as per the department.

Officials said the identities of the deceased couple will be released by the Adams County Coroner's Office after the notification to the next-of-kin, KUSA-TV reported.

The police department added the Adams County Sheriff's Office launched an investigation into the three "suspicious devices" found at the scene of the apparent murder-suicide. However, details related to the devices, including where were they found and how they were linked to the incident, were not provided by the authorities.

Witnesses said someone fired a gun at a member of the congregation in the parking lot and fired what looked like a pipe bomb into the gathering, according to KDVR-TV.

Police further clarified no other people were connected to the shooting and there was no active threat to the community.

Local resident Luis Sanchez said he heard two gunshots and looked outside to find a woman lying on the ground outside. "It's very sad," he told Denver Post. "It's Christmas."

The Sherrelwood Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses issued a statement Sunday afternoon, expressing shock and deep sadness by the unprovoked attack.

"We are shocked and deeply saddened by the unprovoked attack and loss of life at our Kingdom Hall in Thornton," the statement said, according to WPXI-TV. "We are cooperating with the authorities as they carry out their investigation into the event. Our hearts go out to the family and friends of those who have been traumatized by the heinous actions that took the life of an innocent victim and threatened the lives of many others. We are praying for the families of all those affected."

Thornton Mayor Jan Kulmann said in a statement that she was "saddened by the violent actions that took two lives in our city. This kind of violence is always shocking but particularly on Christmas Day."