COLORADO SPRINGS (Colorado): Five people were killed and five others wounded in two separate shootings at Christian centres in Colorado, authorities said, as the death toll rose on Monday in cases which police said are probably linked.

The first shooting occurred in the Denver suburb of Arvada early on Sunday when a young gunman opened fire at a Christian missionary centre. Two staff members in their mid-20s were killed and two others wounded.

The gunman fled before authorities reached the scene.

Hours later a person was shot dead near the New Life church in Colorado Springs and the shooter was then killed by a security guard. Another person caught in this attack died late on Sunday, local Penrose St Francis Hospital spokeswoman Amy Sufak said.

When police arrived “they found that the active shooter had been shot by a security staff member of the church,” City Police Chief Richard Meyers said. “A courageous security staff member who probably saved many lives today.” It was unclear if the shootings were related, but Arvada Police Chief Don Wick said such a link was possible. “Yes, there’s a reason to believe that,” Wick told reporters. He did not elaborate. The two shootings took place 120km apart — a one-and-a-half hour drive.—AFP