Sam Knopp was a student and musician at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. He was known for his incredible talent on the guitar and his passion for music. He dreamed of one day making a career out of his passion and sharing his music with the world. But the fate had decided something else about him.
He was shot to death by Nicholas Jordan, 25, a junior at UCCS. Sam was a beloved senior when he was fatally shot on Feb. 16, 2024. The motive behind the shooting remains unknown, leaving friends and family of Sam devastated and searching for answers.
The university community was shocked by the tragic loss of such a promising young student. Nicholas Jordan was immediately taken into custody and is currently awaiting trial for the murder of Sam and one more victim of the same university named, Celie Montgomery, 26 who was also fatally shot in a shooting at Colorado University-Colorado Springs on the same day, Feb. 16, 2024.
How Old Was Samuel Knopp?
Sam Knopp was 24 years old at the time of his death in 2024. Knopp graduated from Estes Park High School. He had two sisters. Celie Montgomery was from Pueblo. After his death, Dr. Glen Whitehead, chair of the UCCS Department says,
“We are all reeling with the news of the death of our supremely talented student, friend and colleague. My heart is broken for his wonderful family, his close friends, peers and everyone who knew him. Sam was a dynamic, talented musician who had a delightful spirit with an infectious laugh, and who cared deeply about his friends and family.”
Samuel Knopp Was Murdered
Sam Knopp’s murderer Nicholas Jordan, 25, who has been charged with two counts of murder. According to the affidavit, Jordan was reported multiple times by Knopp and an adjacent roommate for “unsafe living conditions” and smoking in the room.
These reports were included in at least three campus police records since the beginning of January. Jordan and Knopp got into a fight on January 9 2024 over a bag of trash. The affidavit claims that Jordan threatened to kill Knopp and that Jordan would face consequences if he was requested to remove the trash once again.
Following the shooting, the campus was forced to close, and all weekend events were canceled. But a few days later, the company announced that the production will have its rescheduled. Knopp’s family has released the full video of his junior recital and said,
“You can see his sheer versatility – and Sam the shredder comes out at around 22 minutes”