Execution-Style Killer Of Denver RTD Worker Sentenced To Life

DENVER, CO -- A U.S. Army veteran who claimed he shot an RTD security officer last year, "for the pleasure of Allah," was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to mandatory life in prison without the possibility of parole, a statement from the Denver District Attorney's office said.

Joshua Cummings, 38, shot and killed RTD security contractor Scott Von Lanken in the head at point-blank range Jan. 31, 2017. Prosecutors claimed that Cummings thought Von Lanken was a police officer because of his uniform. According to his arrest affidavit, Von Lanken was speaking to two women who were asking for train schedule information. According to their witness accounts, Cummings approached behind Von Lanken and said "Do what you are told," then shot Von Lanken and fled on foot. Witnesses described Cummings as having "a swollen face with different/weird looking eyes." After his arrest, DA Beth McCann said Cummings's eye was swollen because of an infection, not any treatment received in custody.

Investigators reportedly found jihad materials in Cummings's backpack. In an interview with CBS4, he allegedly said although he had sworn an allegiance in the U.S. Army to uphold the U.S. Constitution, his actions were "to please Allah."

“On the night in question, what I did do, I didn’t do that for the Islamic State. I did that purely and solely for the pleasure of Allah,” Cummings said in a phone interview with Rick Sallinger.

The slain man, Von Lanken, was a Loveland minister, who worked a part-time job at RTA as a security contractor for Allied Universal, according to his obituary. Hundreds attended Von Lanken's funeral in Feb. of last year.

Image via Denver Police