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Freshman Assaulted at University of Colorado

Former School Employee Arrested; Also Charged in Similar 2001 Attack


By Emily Trudell
9/3/07 - News
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Media Credit: Meave Hamm
On the first day of classes at the University of Colorado at Boulder, a student was victim to a brutal attack. The attack occurred at 9:43 am in front of the University Memorial Center when suspect Kenton Drew Astin, age 39, exited his car and began yelling incoherently. The suspect then grabbed a male student and cut the student's throat with a knife. A Boulder police officer and sheriff's deputy soon arrived at the scene, ordering Astin to drop his weapon. Astin then began to stab himself with the knife before the officers used a Taser to subdue him. Both men were transported to Boulder Community Hospital. Boulder City Police bomb experts checked Astin's backpack, and found no additional weapons. The victim was 17-year-old finance major Michael George Knorps, a freshman from Illinois. Knorps has since undergone surgery. Medical officials report that he is in good condition and may return to his classes.
"We are thankful that Michael is safe and has been released into the loving arms of his family. He is a brave young man and, from my conversation with him, I am very impressed at how well he is handling this traumatic event," said CU Chancellor G.P. "Bud" Peterson. Astin was identified as a former cashier at the university's Alfred Packer Grill, and left the position in April 2007. In 2001, Astin was charged with larceny, 2nd degree assault, and Criminal intent to commit a 1st degree homicide, but was found not guilty due to reasons of insanity. Astin was referred to CU for employment by the Chinook Clubhouse networking program, a division of the Boulder County Health Center that aids the recovery of men and women with mental illness. Because of the incident, the University will remain on a heightened state of alertness for this coming week. Officials have decided to conduct criminal background checks on all new employees, and review the status of their current employees. CU has also suspended referrals from the Chinook center, and has placed all Chinook-referred employees under paid administrative leave until background checks clear. Also, the University plans to provide counseling for any students who may feel distressed about the incident.
After so many stories involving violence in schools, this latest incident has many Mines students feeling uneasy.
"A lot of us know classmates who ended up attending CU. CU was a second choice for me, so it definitely hits home," said freshman Lisa Truong.
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