One officer killed, three wounded in Lakewood, Colorado bus shooting; suspect dead

A shooting in Lakewood, a suburb of Denver, Colorado, on the evening of November 5 left one police officer dead, three officers wounded and a civilian injured. Police shot and killed the suspect.

Suspect opened fire as officers approached near bus

Lakewood police said officers responded at about 6:30 p.m. local time to a report of a suspicious person near the intersection of West Colfax Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard, where they found a man trying to board a Regional Transportation District (RTD) bus. As officers approached, the suspect suddenly opened fire, striking four officers. Police returned fire, and the suspect was pronounced dead at the scene.

Lakewood Police Public Information Officer John Romero confirmed at a news conference that evening that one officer died of his injuries, three other officers were taken to hospital with injuries whose severity was not disclosed, and a civilian was also injured and taken to hospital. Police have not released the identities of the fallen officer, the wounded officers or the suspect.

Suspect may be linked to earlier hit-and-run; investigation under way

Police said the suspect may have been connected to a hit-and-run earlier the same day, but gave no further details, and a motive has not been established. Colorado Governor Jared Polis issued a statement mourning the fallen officer. The Jefferson County Critical Incident Response Team is leading the investigation, with assistance from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, and police said more information would be released on November 6.