LONGMONT, Colo. — Police in Longmont are investigating after a postal worker was shot and killed in front of neighborhood mailboxes Wednesday.
The shooter was at large for hours, but the Longmont Police Department confirmed Wednesday night the victim's ex-girlfriend was taken into custody and is being held for investigation of first-degree murder.
The shooting happened around 12:30 p.m. at Heatherhill Street and Renaissance Drive.
“It's very distressing, because this is generally a wonderful neighborhood,” said Ivan Getting, who lives in the area. “It's disheartening and very, very sad and very sad for our mailman.”
Many neighbors did not see the shooting but heard the gunshots, an uncommon sound in the quiet suburb of Longmont.
“It's hard to just look out your front window or door and see a place where somebody was murdered,” said one neighbor who declined to share her name for privacy concerns. “I was playing up front with my grandchildren this morning in my front yard, and two hours later someone was murdered.”
During a news conference Wednesday afternoon, Longmont Police Deputy Chief Jeff Satur said the suspect approached the postal worker, who was initially identified as a male, and shot him several times before escaping.
Police said the suspect, who was wearing dark clothing, a hoodie and blue mask, was seen fleeing the area south on Renaissance Drive.
The Longmont Police Department said they were unable to apprehend the suspect after an initial search with a police canine, but were following up on a number of leads.
In an update at 10:30 p.m., the Longmont Police Department confirmed they arrested Devan Schreiner, 26, with the assistance of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Further details were not released, but the department said the crime "appears to be an isolated incident and an act of domestic violence."
He urged the public to contact law enforcement if they have any home video that could aid them in their investigation by calling them at 303-651-8501.
Satur said Longmont police and U.S. Postal Inspection Services resumed the investigation Thursday morning, searching the home of an acquaintance of Schreiner's and getting a search warrant for Schreiner's vehicle and apartment.
A team was serving that warrant at her apartment on Thursday morning. She had been due in court for an advisement hearing at 1:30 p.m. but the hearing was vacated and scheduled for Oct. 19. Her arrest warrant is expected to be released Thursday.
"Although the investigation is still in its early stages, the teamwork has generated a lot of progress in the short period of time since the murder," Satur said.
Forty-seven postal vehicles also drove the route of the letter carrier on Thursday morning in his honor.
A somber processional of 47 Postal vehicles drove the route of our deceased Longmont carrier this morning in honor of his service. #PostalProud #Family pic.twitter.com/phPobt3FUH
— USPS Colorado (@USPS_Colorado) October 14, 2021