A Lakewood, Colorado, police officer was killed and three other officers were wounded Thursday evening after a suspect opened fire near a Regional Transportation District bus just west of Denver, authorities said.
Lakewood police said officers responded around 6:30 p.m. to a report of a suspicious person near West Colfax Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard. Public Information Officer John Romero said the suspect was attempting to board an RTD bus when officers approached.
"Within seconds of agents approaching the suspect, the suspect opened fire on our agents," Romero said. A gunfight followed. Four officers were struck. One was later pronounced dead. The suspect was shot by police and pronounced dead at the scene.
A civilian was also injured and taken to a hospital. Romero did not immediately detail the civilian's injuries. Denver7 later reported the three surviving officers were in stable condition.
Police have not publicly released the names or ages of the fallen officer, the wounded officers or the suspect. Romero said the suspect may have been involved in a hit-and-run earlier in the day.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said he was "heartbroken" to learn a Lakewood police agent was killed in the line of duty and offered prayers for the wounded officers, the civilian and the fallen officer's family. The Colorado State Patrol assisted at the scene and in a hospital procession honoring the officer.
RTD said it was "deeply concerned" by the shooting aboard an RTD-contracted Route 76 bus and that service was not affected. The First Judicial Critical Incident Response Team is investigating the officer-involved shooting with support from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.
Fox News, the Associated Press, the Colorado Sun, Denver7 and ABC News all reported the same core facts Thursday night and into Friday. Identities remained pending as of early Friday.
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