Lakewood Officer Killed, Three Wounded in Shooting

A Lakewood police officer was killed and three others wounded Thursday evening around 6:30 p.m. near West Colfax Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard, west of Sloan Lake, after officers responded to a report of a suspicious person trying to board an RTD bus. Lakewood police spokesperson John Romero said that within seconds of agents approaching the suspect, the suspect opened fire on the agents; police returned fire and killed the suspect at the scene. One civilian was injured. Wounded officers were taken to local hospitals, including Denver Health, where a police vehicle procession formed. Romero said one agent was pronounced dead and told the family the department is a family and will be there for them. Governor Jared Polis said he was heartbroken an agent was killed in the line of duty, that his heart goes out to family and friends, and that his thoughts are with the three agents and the wounded civilian, wishing full recovery. RTD said the shooting happened aboard a contracted Route 76 bus and that safety of customers, employees, and partners is its highest priority. The suspect was believed connected to an earlier hit-and-run; identities were not released. Jefferson County Critical Incident Response Team is leading the investigation with Colorado Bureau of Investigation support; Colorado State Patrol assisted at the scene and in the hospital procession.