Lakewood officer killed, three others wounded in shooting near bus

One police officer was killed and three others were wounded Thursday evening in Lakewood, Colorado, after a suspect opened fire near a bus outside Denver, authorities said. Police shot the suspect, who was pronounced dead at the scene. A civilian was also injured and taken to a local hospital.

Lakewood officers had been dispatched around 6:30 p.m. to investigate a report of a suspicious person near Colfax Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard. When they arrived, they encountered a suspect who was trying to board a Regional Transportation District bus, according to information released by police.

John Romero, a public information officer for Lakewood police, told a news conference that the shooting began almost immediately after officers approached. "Within seconds of agents approaching the suspect, the suspect opened fire on our agents," he said. Four officers were struck by the gunfire.

Romero confirmed that one of the wounded officers had died. Authorities did not immediately describe the extent of the injuries suffered by the three surviving officers or provide details about their conditions. Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said in a subsequent statement that those officers were receiving treatment at area hospitals.

Speaking about the officer who died, Romero expressed the department's support for the officer's family. He said the department loved them and would be there for them, describing Lakewood police as a family whose members would support one another following the shooting.

Polis expressed grief over the officer's death and offered sympathy to the officer's relatives and friends. He also wished the three surviving officers and the wounded civilian a full and speedy recovery, while thanking law enforcement personnel for putting themselves in danger to protect their communities.

The governor said the Colorado State Patrol was helping at the scene. The agency was also participating in a procession from the hospital to honor the officer who had been killed.

The Jefferson County Critical Incident Response Team is leading the investigation into the officer-involved shooting. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation is providing support for that work.

RTD expressed concern about the shooting in a separate statement and offered its thoughts to everyone directly affected. The transit agency said the safety and well-being of its passengers, employees and partners remained its highest priority.