Lost in the coverage of last week’s shooting spree in Colorado, in which a gunman killed four people at a missionary-training center near Denver and at a church in Colorado Springs, is that a college campus was housed at the church as well, and a number of professors and students were eyewitnesses to the gunplay and deaths there. The campus at New Life Church is part of the King’s College and Seminary, based in Los Angeles. No one directly connected to the college was killed in the attack, but neither were they left untouched by the tragedy.

Herewith are some accounts of their experiences, which were provided to The Chronicle by a professor at the college, who requested anonymity for himself and his colleagues and students.

A professor wrote: “My wife and I were at New Life Church … [and were] just about to cross the very hallway where the shooter was, when we heard multiple gunshots inside the church about 15 yards away. Someone shouted, ‘Run!!’ and we did. We left all our possessions and our coats at our table, and literally ran toward the exit. We took cover out in the parking lot, behind some metal dumpsters. I walked about 100 feet (well out in the parking lot) to my car, and decided to drive home.”

A divinity student wrote: “We, too, were in the chapel as the shots rang out. My two kids, and a neighbor, were in our car leaving the parking lot. They saw people being shot. The gunman looked at my kids in the car, raised his gun toward them, then chose to shoot at another car. They are safe.”

Another student wrote: “I was in the TAG chapel when the shooting started with my wife and three kids. We ran out into the parking lot but were not near our van. A man gave us a ride to our van, which was by the entrance where the shooter entered (we did not realize the shooter was in that area). Two of the victims were lying on the ground about 10 yards from our van. They had a couple of people helping them until the police arrived. We were able to get out of there safely, but were pretty shaken. Our kids saw the bodies and were scared by the gunshots. It was a crazy day. The police interviewed us later that evening, which revealed to us how close we had been to the shooter. We praise God for his protection.”

A college official wrote to colleagues and students: “Not knowing if anything had happened to any of you in the Chapel, we were in prayer for you at those very moments, standing in the gap for you, praying for God’s protection over each and everyone of you. ... Please be praying for New Life Church and those that lost loved ones. I also encourage you to minister to one another as the Body of Christ … His community. Let’s let the Holy Spirit work through each one of us with His love and grace as we minister to one another.”