Gunman Kills Police Officer, Injures Others During Shootout On Public Bus

A police officer in Colorado was shot and killed, and three more officers and a civilian were injured after law enforcement chased down a suspicious person who then fired at them on a public bus on Thursday night. 

Lakewood Police Department officers went to check on the suspicious person, who was believed to have been involved in a hit and run, when the man opened fire on them as he attempted to board a bus outside of Denver at 6:30 p.m. Bullets fired by the gunman struck four officers and one bystander.

“Within seconds of agents approaching the suspect, the suspect opened fire on our agents,” Lakewood Police Public Information Officer John Romero said during a news conference. “We are very sorry to report that one of those agents has been pronounced dead of their injuries.”

The officers returned fire, killing the gunman. The extent of the bystander’s injuries remains unknown, according to the department. The three surviving officers were in stable condition. The department has not yet released the name of the officer who was killed in the line of duty.

“Words cannot express the profound sorrow our department and community feel tonight over the loss of our fallen hero, who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to Lakewood,” the department said in a statement. “Our hearts are heavy, and we stand shoulder-to-shoulder with their loved ones, lifting them up in unwavering support, love, and prayer during this unimaginable time. We are not releasing our agent’s name at this time.”

The First Judicial District Critical Incident Response Team is investigating the shooting. 

The Regional Transportation District (RTD), which serves as Denver’s public transit released a statement on the shooting, saying it was “deeply concerned” by the incident that “occurred this evening aboard an RTD-contracted operated bus servicing Route 76 in Lakewood.”

“Our thoughts are with those affected directly by this incident,” the public transit service added.