The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team (BG-RRT) has deployed to Boulder, Colorado, after a gunman opened fire in a supermarket March 22, killing 10 people.

According to the Colorado Springs Gazette, the initial 911 call about the shooting at a King Soopers store came in at 2:39 p.m. MDT. Officer Eric Talley, 51, was the first officer to respond to the scene and was among those killed.

“He loved this community,” Boulder Police Chief Maris Herold told CNN affiliate KUSA. “He’s everything policing needs, he cared about this community, Boulder Police, his family. He was willing to die to protect others, and that gets lost in translation.”   

Talley is survived by his wife and seven children.

The other nine victims were identified as Denny Stong, 20; Neven Stanisic, 23; Rikki Olds, 25; Tralona Bartkowiak, 49; Teri Leiker, 51; Suzanne Fountain, 59; Kevin Mahoney, 61; Lynn Murray, 62; and Jodi Waters, 65.

“These were people going about their day, doing their food shopping, and their lives were cut abruptly and tragically short by the shooter,” Boulder District Attorney Michael Dougherty said.

The 21-year-old shooter has been taken into custody and is facing 10 counts of murder in the first degree. His first court appearance is scheduled for March 25. 

“The tragedy of the mass shooting at the grocery store in Boulder, Colorado is excruciating,” said Josh Holland, assistant director of the BG-RRT. “Our hearts break for each and every family who lost a loved one through this evil and senseless act of violence. The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team has crisis-trained chaplains in Boulder who will be available to offer emotional and spiritual care to this community during this time of great pain. We pray for God’s supernatural peace and comfort as they grieve.”

 
Above: People pay their respects at a memorial outside the King Soopers grocery store in Boulder, Colorado.

Photo: Bob Strong/UPI/Alamy Live News