Colorado bomber of union hall tried to blow up church before killing wife and self
Tori Richards
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A Colorado electrician involved in a Christmas Day murder-suicide was also the suspect behind a labor union office bombing that morning, along with the subsequently attempted bombing of a church.
Enoch Apodaca, 46, fired a shotgun into the back of his wife’s head and then turned the gun on himself after placing three pipe bombs inside a Jehovah’s Witness kingdom hall. Police had known for more than a year that Apodaca had an obsession with making bombs and even threatened to kill his wife, the Denver Post reported Wednesday.
A caller warned police in September that Apodaca was using drugs and threatened violence after both he and his wife were fired from their jobs.
“He said people were going to pay and there is going to be carnage,” a police report said. “[Caller] is concerned that something is going to occur that could be prevented.”
MEAT CLEAVER-WIELDING SUSPECT SHOT DEAD BY POLICE
Apodaca first placed a bucket in the building of IBEW, an electricians union, and drove off as a loud explosion and subsequent fire occurred. He then drove to the church, where he broke a window to place the explosives inside, but they did not detonate, the Denver Post reported. Both devices were similar.
When officers searched the couple’s home, they found belongings labeled for distribution to various family members and material to make additional bombs. Police said the couple had “personal issues” with both businesses.
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Apodaca was fired from his job at Sturgeon Electric Company in 2021 and kicked out of the Jehovah’s Witness kingdom hall in 2019. His former employer had filed a restraining order against Apodaca.