A Lakewood, Colorado police agent was killed and three more were wounded when a man they had come to check on opened fire as he tried to board a city bus.
Story Highlights
- Police say a man trying to board an RTD bus opened fire within seconds of officers walking up to him.
- Four Lakewood police agents were hit. One died, and three were wounded. Officers shot and killed the suspect.
- The shooting happened around 6:30 p.m. near West Colfax Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard, west of Denver.
- Officers had been called about a suspicious person who police say may have been involved in an earlier hit-and-run.
- A civilian was also hurt and taken to a hospital.
Police Account: Shots Came Within Seconds
Lakewood officers were called around 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 5, about a suspicious person near West Colfax Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard, a busy corner about 5 miles west of downtown Denver. Police say the man may have been involved in a hit-and-run earlier that day. When officers reached him, he was trying to get on a bus run by RTD, the Regional Transportation District that runs public transit across the Denver area. Lakewood calls its officers “agents.”
“Within seconds of agents approaching the suspect, the suspect opened fire on our agents. A gunfight ensued,” said John Romero, the Lakewood Police Department’s spokesman. Four agents were hit. Officers returned fire, and the suspect was pronounced dead at the scene. Police have not released a motive.
One Agent Lost, Three Wounded
“We are very sorry to report that one of those agents has been pronounced dead of their injuries,” Romero said. Police have not released the agent’s name. The three wounded agents were taken to area hospitals. Police have not given details on how badly they were hurt. A civilian was also injured and taken to a hospital, and officials have not said how that injury happened.
Romero said the department’s main concern was the family of the fallen agent and the other agents at the Lakewood Police Department. He added that the department is “a family” and will stand by the agent’s loved ones. The Colorado State Patrol helped at the scene and joined a procession to honor the fallen agent.
The Bus And The Investigation
RTD said the shooting happened aboard one of its contracted buses on Route 76. The agency said it was “deeply concerned” and that “our thoughts are with those affected directly by this incident.” Romero had said early on that he believed the shooting took place on the bus but could not yet confirm whether it was aboard or outside it.
The Jefferson County Critical Incident Response Team, a group of outside investigators who look into shootings involving officers in the county, is leading the case with help from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. Police have not released the suspect’s name, the type of gun he used or how many shots were fired. Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said he was heartbroken that a Lakewood agent had been killed in the line of duty.
Sources:
foxnews.com, abcnews.com, fox4news.com, edition.cnn.com, fox56news.com, cbsnews.com, denverpost.com
