The story is cold in the back.
The man who killed five people before being shot by police on Monday in Colorado had predicted the murders and named some of his victims in a series of science fiction novels, according to police and US media.
"We are aware of the books written by the suspect under a pseudonym, which are part of our investigation," a Denver Police spokesperson confirmed.
The shooter, identified as Lyndon McLeod by police, had released a trilogy, "Sanction," between 2018 and 2020 under the name Roman McClay. According to a comment posted on the author's website, the plot follows "a politician / billionaire who wants to use genetic technology to rewrite the DNA of criminals, such as serial killers or violent people." In a publication on his site, “Roman McClay” said to mix fiction and “people” and “real events” in order to “blur the line between what exists and what is possible”.
Lyndon James McLeod, the suspect accused of killing 5 people in a shooting rampage in Denver and Lakewood, Colorado, was an author under the name Roman McClay.
He was investigated by police in 2020 and 2021 and targeted victims and locations, police say: https://t.co/BHKSEhyej1 pic.twitter.com/5GQYSX7p5m
- Heavy.com (@HeavySan) December 28, 2021
His murderous journey Monday, in the Denver area, is even more frightening when we put his story, written several years ago, in parallel with the facts.
In a volume of his trilogy, the author tells the story of the murder of a woman, Alicia Cardenas.
On Monday, the 47-year-old gunman effectively opened fire at a tattoo parlor in Denver, killing a tattoo artist and the salon's owner… Alicia Cardenas.
Lyndon McLeod's name appeared on administrative documents linked to a premises bought a few years ago by Alicia Cardenas.
The suspect appeared to be "targeting specific people"
In the first volume, a man named Lyndon MacLeod kills a character called Michael Swinyard in a Denver apartment building.
On Monday, Lyndon McLeod fatally injured a man named Michael Swinyard, after which he traveled to Lakewood, on the outskirts of Denver, where he killed a man at another tattoo parlor and then a hotel receptionist .
He was then shot dead by a policewoman, who herself was injured in the exchange of gunfire.
The suspect appeared to "target specific people" and he had "personal or professional relations" with some of his victims, police said on Tuesday.
The receptionist was unrelated to the gunman, but he had had "interactions" with the hotel, police said.
Lyndon McLeod had already been the subject of police investigations in 2020 and 2021, but no prosecution had been initiated, said the police who have not yet determined the motive for the attacks.
