A community college instructor killed in a classroom murder-suicide was hailed as a hero, with police saying he gave his students time to flee by distracting and fighting off his son after the younger man barged into his computer science class and shot him in the head with a high-powered bow and arrow.
The arrow severely wounded James Krumm, 56, but he managed to wrestle with son Christopher Krumm, 25, of Vernon, Connecticut, on Friday while the handful of students in the Casper College classroom escaped.
Christopher Krumm had just stabbed to death his father’s live-in girlfriend at the couple’s home.
When police arrived at the classroom after the attack, they found Christopher Krumm bleeding from self-inflicted knife wounds and taking his last breaths.
James Krumm was dead, Casper police chief Chris Walsh said.
“I can tell you the courage that was demonstrated by Mr Krumm was absolutely without equal,” he said.
Authorities believe “about six” students were in the classroom when Christopher Krumm entered, Casper police spokesman Justin Smith said. No students were hurt.
Walsh said police were trying to figure out what motivated Christopher Krumm to attack his father and his father’s girlfriend, 42-year-old Heidi Arnold, a math instructor at the college. Arnold died of multiple stab wounds.
After shooting his father with the arrow, Christopher Krumm stabbed himself, then fatally stabbed his father in the chest, Walsh said.
Police began getting reports about the attack on Arnold soon after they responded by the dozen to the campus attack. Authorities locked down the campus for two hours while they scoured the grounds for any other attackers. They were reassured that Christopher Krumm acted alone.
He had smuggled the compound bow — a type much more powerful and effective for hunting than a simple, wooden bow — onto campus beneath a blanket, Walsh said.
He said Christopher Krumm also had two knives with him and the knife used was “very large.” Arnold’s body was found in a gutter on her street and evidence suggested much of the attack occurred outside, Walsh said.
Casper College instructor Kevin McDermott said Arnold and James Krumm were well-liked on campus.
“They were really good, kind-hearted people. People like Jim and Heidi are what make Casper College such a great college,” he said.
Investigators said Christopher Krumm had no significant history of encounters with police.
Authorities are uncertain what went awry in his relationship with his father.
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