DENVER (KDVR) — The Lakewood Police Department reported Golden and Denver officers fired at a suspect, hitting the suspect at least once on Tuesday evening and sending the suspect to the hospital.
The shooting was reported near the intersection of Colfax Avenue and Pierce Street. The intersection borders the shopping plaza that Casa Bonita calls home.
A heavy police presence was reported at about 5:21 p.m. and police asked for the public to avoid the area. A heavy amount of police remained in the area as of 7:15 p.m.
John Romero, public information officer with the Lakewood Police Department, provided an update at about 6:45 p.m. and said multiple jurisdictions were involved in the shooting.
Lakewood police had attempted to contact a suspect of felony eluding, who fled when police caught up with him, according to Romero. Police said he had a firearm on his lap when police contacted him as he sat inside a vehicle, and he eluded officers again by fleeing in the vehicle.
“Sounds like he had several felony warrants out there, including eluding,” Romero said.
The Colorado Metropolitan Auto Theft Task Force became involved, and detectives began helping investigate the case. At about 4:15 p.m., police caught up with their suspect, who was still in a vehicle, at an apartment complex in the area of Colfax and Pierce. The armed suspect fled on foot and was shot at by Denver and Golden police officers, Romero said.
The suspect was struck at least once by officers’ gunfire and taken to a local hospital. He’s expected to survive. Several people were in the car with the suspect when he was found at the apartment complex, Romero said Tuesday night.
Romero said there could be further suspects in the case, and that a firearm was recovered from the scene. FOX31’s Rachel Saurer, who arrived on scene after 6 p.m., said officers were using a bullhorn to ask suspects to reveal themselves when she arrived.
No law enforcement were injured in the shooting, Romero said. The Jefferson County Critical Incident Team has been tasked with reviewing the incident.
FOX31 has a crew at this scene and will update this article as information becomes available about the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
