Suspect Dead, 1 Officer Dead and More Wounded In Colorado Shooting

 

 

 

One Douglas County deputy died and four more were wounded along with two civilians Sunday morning at a Highlands Ranch apartment complex. The shooter was also shot and is believed dead, the Sheriff’s Office said in a tweet at 9:32 a.m.

The Sheriff’s Office announced at 10:02 a.m. that the slain officer would soon be moved from Littleton Adventist Hospital in a procession. “Expect heavy law enforcement presence and traffic congestion on Broadway, C470 and SB I-25,” the Sheriffs Office tweeted.

Deputies were responding to a domestic disturbance call when shots were fired from the home in the 3400 block of County Line Road near Colorado Boulevard before 6 a.m., Lauren Lekander, DCSO spokeswoman said.

Denver 7 reported hearing shots fired as a reporter later arrived at the scene.

“We have SWAT out there setting up and preparing to go in right now,” Lekander said at about 7:15 a.m.

Early during the incident, the Sheriff’s Office said only that a number of officers were shot. “We have multiple officers down,” said Deputy Jason Blanchard of the incident at Copper Canyon Apartments in Highlands Ranch.

“We are not giving numbers or status at this point, we are still working on getting the suspect in custody.”

Residents were told to stay inside and avoid windows and exterior walls.

Steven Silknitter lives in the complex.

He was working elsewhere when he heard about the shooting. He called home waking up his fiance.

She woke to hear “a barrage” of gunfire in the dark, said Silknitter.

“She was pretty scared. She kept saying how loud it was.”

Silknitter lived in Aurora during the 2014 Aurora Theater shooting. “Where do you move to? It’s everywhere.”

Three of the injured were taken to Skyridge Medical Center in Lone Tree with non-critical injuries, said Linda Watson, a hospital spokeswoman. She couldn’t say if the injured were officers. Another four have been taken to Littleton Adventist Hospital, said Alyssa Parker, a hospital spokeswoman.

Parker couldn’t say how serious their injuries are.

Due to the size of the investigation an emergency shelter was set up at East Ridge Recreation Center, located at 9568 University Blvd. in Highlands Ranch. Anyone who has been displaced can go there, the Sheriff’s Department said.

 

Multiple law enforcement vehicles, Douglas County Sheriff, South Metro and Littleton fire rescue vehicles came and went from the scene.

“There is still a lot of activity out here,” Larry Ryckman, Denver Post editor at the scene, said at 9:30 a.m.

 

Video broadcast by Denver 7 showed an Arapahoe County Sheriff Bomb Squad truck at the scene.

In a Code Red the Sheriff’s office told residents to shelter in place, avoid windows and stay away from exterior walls.

An investigation is in progress and most of County Line Road is closed down from Colorado Boulevard to University Boulevard. C-470 is closed from Quebec Street to University Boulevard.

Parker Police Department, Lone Tree Police, Castle Rock Police and Colorado State Patrol are involved in the incident.