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A Lakewood police officer was killed and three others were wounded in a gunfight with a suspect near a bus in Lakewood, Colorado, on Thursday evening, police said. The suspect was also killed, and a civilian was injured; investigators have not released the identities or details about the civilian’s injuries.
A Lakewood police officer was killed and three others were wounded in a gunfight with a suspect near a bus in Lakewood, Colorado, on Thursday evening, police said. The suspect was also killed, and a civilian was injured, according to police; the circumstances of the civilian’s injury have not been established publicly.
Officers were dispatched at about 6:30 p.m. local time to the area of Colfax and Wadsworth, roughly five miles west of downtown Denver, after receiving a report of a suspicious person. Lakewood Police Department public information officer John Romero told reporters that the person may have been involved in a hit-and-run earlier that day. That possible connection had not been confirmed in the information released by police.
When officers encountered the suspect, he was trying to board a Regional Transportation District-contracted bus serving Route 76, Romero said. He told reporters the suspect opened fire within seconds of officers approaching, prompting a gunfight. Police have not publicly released a detailed sequence of the exchange or identified who fired particular shots.
All four officers were taken to area hospitals. One officer died; Romero said he did not have information about the condition of the three wounded officers. Police said the suspect was killed in the gunfire. A civilian was also injured, but Romero said it was unclear how that person was hurt. Authorities had not released the names of the officer victims or the suspect in the initial reports.
Impact on Lakewood Police and Transit
The shooting left the Lakewood department coping with the death of an officer and injuries to three colleagues while investigators work to establish what happened. The department said neighboring agencies would cover patrols and calls for service in the coming days, allowing Lakewood personnel time to grieve and support one another. That arrangement also means police services in Lakewood will involve neighboring agencies during the immediate response period.
The incident took place aboard or in connection with an RTD-contracted bus, according to the transit agency’s statement. The agency said it was concerned about the shooting and that the safety and well-being of its customers, employees and partners remained its highest priority. Police have not released details about how many passengers or employees were present, or whether anyone else was hurt.
The loss of an officer is also being recognized by state officials. Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said in a social media statement that he was heartbroken to learn an officer had been killed in the line of duty. The investigation will need to clarify the encounter and the injuries, while the department and partner agencies maintain local patrol coverage.
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Dispatch and Bus Encounter
Police said the call came in at approximately 6:30 p.m. Thursday for a suspicious person near Colfax Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard. Romero said the person may have been connected to a hit-and-run earlier in the day, but the released account did not establish that link or describe the earlier incident.
Romero’s account places the encounter as the suspect was attempting to get onto an RTD bus. The transit agency identified the vehicle as a contracted bus serving Route 76 in Lakewood. The Jefferson County Critical Incident Response Team will investigate the officer-involved shooting, Romero said. Lakewood police announced Friday morning that agencies from nearby jurisdictions would assist with patrols and calls for service.
“Within seconds of agents approaching the suspect, the suspect opened fire on our agents. A gunfight ensued.”
— John Romero, Lakewood Police Department public information officer
Key Details Still Pending
Police had not released the identities of the officers or the suspect in the reports provided. Romero also said he did not know the condition of the three wounded officers. The civilian’s identity, condition and circumstances of injury have not been described publicly.
The suspected connection to a hit-and-run remains unconfirmed in the available account. Investigators have not released a full timeline of the gunfight, specified whether the shooting happened on the bus or immediately beside it, or said how many people were on board. The precise actions of those involved and the evidence supporting the initial account remain under investigation.
Investigation and Patrol Coverage
The Jefferson County Critical Incident Response Team is set to handle the investigation into the officer-involved shooting, according to Romero. Further information may clarify the encounter, the civilian’s injuries, the condition of the surviving officers and the possible hit-and-run connection.
Lakewood police said neighboring agencies would help patrol the city and respond to calls over the next several days. The department said that support would give its officers and staff space to grieve and support one another. Police had not provided a timetable for additional investigative updates in the information available.
Key Questions
Where did the shooting happen?
Police said officers responded to the area of Colfax Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard in Lakewood, about five miles west of downtown Denver. The encounter occurred as the suspect was trying to board an RTD-contracted Route 76 bus, according to police.
How many people were shot?
Police said four officers were shot: one died and three were wounded. The suspect was killed in the gunfire, and a civilian was also injured. Police had not explained how the civilian was hurt.
Has the suspect been identified?
No. Police had not released the suspect’s name or the names of the officer victims in the reports provided.
Who is investigating the shooting?
The Jefferson County Critical Incident Response Team will handle the investigation into the officer-involved shooting, Lakewood police public information officer John Romero said.
Will Lakewood police continue responding to calls?
Yes. Lakewood police said neighboring agencies would cover patrols and calls for service over the next several days while department personnel grieve and support one another.
Source: abcnews.com
