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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted at 11:42 a.m., Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Colorado Capitol gunman mentally ill, police say

Associated Press

DENVER — Authorities on Tuesday identified a man shot to death by a state trooper outside the governor's Capitol office as a 32-year-old with an apparent mental problem.

Aaron Snyder of Thornton had rented a tuxedo hours before the Monday shooting, telling a woman that it was "the day of the emperor's reign," Denver Police Chief Gerry Whitman said. He did not elaborate on Snyder's mental condition.

Snyder walked into the state Capitol later with a gun and declared, "I am the emperor and I'm here to take over state government," officials said.