(COLORADO SPRINGS) — The suspect in an officer-involved shooting at the old Red Lobster location on North Academy Boulevard on Sunday, April 13, was killed in another officer-involved shooting in Iowa two days later, according to the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office (EPSO).
In an update, EPSO said the suspect, who was never apprehended following the shooting on Sunday, April 15, had been identified using DNA evidence collected at the scene.
51-year-old Vonderrick Rayford of Wisconsin was identified by the Metro Crime Lab as the potential suspect in a shooting on Sunday that left a woman critically injured, as well as the ensuing officer-involved shooting.
Police originally responded to the 4900 block of North Academy Boulevard shortly before 1 p.m. on Sunday on a report of a disturbance involving multiple people. As the first officer arrived on scene, she heard at least one gunshot and saw a woman lying on the ground. As the officer stepped out of her car, EPSO said she came under fire.
The officer fired at least one shot at the suspect, now identified as Rayford, before he ran from the scene. A shelter-in-place was issued in the area as police searched for Rayford, but he was never found.
The woman who was found lying on the ground suffered at least one gunshot wound and was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. She remains in critical condition.
EPSO assumed the investigation into both the shooting of the woman and the officer-involved shooting and collected the DNA evidence that would lead to the identification of Rayford. EPSO said his identification was supported by video surveillance footage.
EPSO said detectives recently learned that Rayford was involved in another officer-involved shooting in Dallas County, Iowa, on Tuesday, April 15, which resulted in his death.
According to our sister station in Iowa, WHO13 Des Moines, Rayford was pulled over around 1:30 in the morning on April 15 by a Dallas County Sheriff’s deputy west of Des Moines for driving in excess of 80 miles per hour. After being pulled over, Rayford allegedly got out of his car and immediately fired shots at the deputy.
Multiple law enforcement agencies responded to assist, and when Rayford allegedly opened fire on them, they returned fire, hitting and killing him. According to law enforcement in Iowa, the investigation so far has found that the vehicle Rayford was driving and the gun he used during the shooting were stolen. Rayford also had a warrant for his arrest in Wisconsin.
The investigation into the shooting on North Academy Boulevard remains active and ongoing, EPSO said.
WHO13 Des Moines contributed to this report.
