Several police agencies are investigating a pursuit and a fatal shooting involving an officer that occurred Tuesday morning in the Denver metro area.
Just before 7 a.m., the Thornton Police Department reported an officer-involved shooting in Lakewood following a pursuit that began in Thornton. The pursuit began when Thornton police officers noticed a suspicious vehicle without license plates in the vicinity of East 84th Avenue and Washington Street at approximately 2:37 a.m.
Officers followed the vehicle for nearly 13 miles into Lakewood before the suspect exited the vehicle at the intersection of Alameda Avenue and Sheridan Boulevard, where they reportedly fired a gun at officers. The pursuit continued for about another 3 miles into the area of West 2nd Avenue and Garrison Street.
At this point, the pursuit concluded, and two individuals exited the vehicle, one of whom was allegedly armed with a handgun. Officers then fired shots, striking both suspects. No officers sustained injuries. Both suspects were pronounced dead at the scene, and their identities will be disclosed at a later time.
The investigation into the incident is being conducted by several police agencies, with the Jefferson County Critical Incident Response Team taking over the investigation.
Per standard protocol, the officers involved in the shooting will be placed on administrative leave. It remains unclear how many officers fired shots or the number of shots fired by each officer.
Eyewitness Accounts Shed Light on the Incident
Eyewitnesses at the scene provided accounts of the events surrounding the shooting, offering insight into the chaotic situation that unfolded early Tuesday morning.
Residents in the area described a flurry of police activity, with one neighbor, Devin Norcross, stating, As soon as I looked outside, I saw what I imagined to be about 15 police cars.
Another resident, identified only as ‘Cameron,’ recounted hearing the sounds of a police chase and gunfire, expressing disbelief that such events could occur right in front of them.
Lisa Fitzingo, another neighbor, described hearing the sounds of a crash followed by rapid gunfire, while Karen Sierra mentioned being awakened by her mother due to the commotion outside, emphasizing that such incidents were unprecedented in their neighborhood.
Road Closure and Reopening
The aftermath of the incident led to the closure of Garrison Street from 1st to 3rd place. However, the roadway was reopened to traffic shortly before 11 a.m., allowing normalcy to return to the area.
As investigations continue and more details emerge, the community awaits further updates regarding the circumstances surrounding this tragic event.
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