UNC Dorm Gun Case Spurs Sheriff’s Push to Fix Colorado Competency Loophole

By Heather Willard, Vicente Arenas | KDVR FOX31

DENVER (KDVR) — A man accused of carrying a long gun onto the University of Northern Colorado’s campus in Greeley appeared in court on Thursday for a bond hearing, just weeks after he was released from the Weld County Jail.

Ephraim Debisa, 21, was released from jail on Sept. 8 after he was found not competent to stand trial in an attempted murder case, as is required by Colorado law. When he was released, the Weld County Sheriff’s Office issued a warning to the community, calling Debisa “dangerous” and highlighting his alleged previous violent actions.

On Wednesday, the Weld County Sheriff’s Office announced Debisa was re-arrested at his home after a report of him inside a UNC residence hall holding a long gun on Tuesday.

According to court records, Debisa received a no-trespass order from UNC in February 2021 in connection with a campus bookstore burglary. Firearms are also prohibited from being carried inside UNC residence halls.

The report of Debisa on UNC property was received via Safe2Tell, an anonymous reporting application for educational settings, showing an Instagram post that appeared to be from Debisa, showing him holding what appeared to be an AR-15 gun with a red dot or magnifying sight attached to the top.

Police were able to confirm that Debisa was inside the Arlington Apartments residence hall, owned by UNC, located on 9th Avenue in Greeley. An arrest affidavit for Debisa says a UNC student and a second person were seen entering the building and letting Debisa into the building. The second person could be seen walking with a limp and holding both hands near his torso.

The affidavit said surveillance footage captured the magazine of the rifle sticking out from under the jacket that the person was wearing. Later, Debisa was seen on surveillance, appearing to conceal the firearm under his clothes with the barrel pointed down, and leaving the building.

Students at the residence hall told FOX31’s Vicente Arenas they remember seeing Debisa at the building.

“It was just like, ‘Oh, he literally looks like he could have been my classmate,’” said one student. “So, I wouldn’t have clocked him immediately, like ‘Oh, this is somebody that’s not supposed to be on campus.’”

Law enforcement frustrated by competency law

After Debisa’s release earlier this month, Weld County District Attorney Michael Rourke and Weld County Sheriff Steve Reams said state laws forced them to release the 21-year-old due to his mental competency issues.

Law enforcement warned he would be a danger to the community and put others in danger.

The district attorney has asked the governor and lawmakers to strengthen the laws that allowed Debisa to walk free.

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