Lakewood Police: One officer dies in bus stop shootout
A suspect shot at responding officers at a Colfax and Wadsworth intersection Thursday evening, killing one cop and wounding three others before being killed himself.
By Harper Collins ·
Lakewood Police Department confirmed the death of one officer and injuries to three others following a high-speed tactical encounter on Thursday evening. The incident took place near the intersection of Colfax and Wadsworth, a location approximately five miles west of downtown Denver. Public information officer John Romero stated that the department had been dispatched around 6:30 p.m. local time to investigate a report of a suspicious person who was linked to a hit-and-run earlier that day.
Romero explained that the suspect was in the process of boarding a Regional Transportation District bus when law enforcement arrived. He noted that the suspect opened fire on the approaching officers within seconds of their arrival, triggering an immediate exchange of gunfire. The suspect was killed in the crossfire. A civilian passenger or bystander was also injured during the event, though Romero indicated that the specific circumstances surrounding the civilian's injury remained unclear at the time of the press conference.
All four officers were transported to nearby hospitals for treatment, where the initial casualty was pronounced dead. Romero did not provide detailed updates on the medical conditions of the three surviving officers. The Jefferson County Critical Incident Response Team has taken over the investigative process, a standard procedure for officer-involved shootings in the region. Neither the names of the fallen officer nor the suspect have been made public as of the morning after the incident.
The event has triggered a coordinated support effort from adjacent law enforcement agencies. On Friday morning, the Lakewood Police Department announced that neighboring units would deploy additional patrol vehicles and personnel across the city for the next several days. This temporary reinforcement allows Lakewood officers to take time away from their standard duties to grieve and support one another. The department emphasized that the extra staff would handle routine patrols and calls for service, ensuring public safety while the department processes the loss.
State and local officials have weighed in on the tragedy. Colorado Governor Jared Polis expressed his heartbreak on social media, acknowledging that the deceased officer was killed in the line of duty while protecting the public. The Regional Transportation District released a statement noting their concern over the shooting on their Route 76 bus. They affirmed that the safety of their customers and employees remains their top priority. The investigation is ongoing, with the critical incident team reviewing evidence from the scene.
The location of the shoot-out is a major transit corridor in the Lakewood area. The bus involved was a contracted service operated by RTD. The initial call for service cited a suspicious individual, which prompted the response that led to the confrontation. The department has not released the identity of the civilian injured in the blast. Families of the involved parties have been notified and are being supported by the department's internal resources.
