A deadly shootout erupted on a public bus outside Denver on Thursday evening, leaving one police officer dead and four others wounded before officers fatally shot the gunman.
Lakewood Police Department officers had been dispatched to investigate a suspicious person believed to be connected to a hit-and-run incident when violence erupted around 6:30 p.m. The suspect suddenly opened fire as they tried boarding a Regional Transportation District bus.
‘Within Seconds, Suspect Opened Fire’
“Within seconds of agents approaching the suspect, the suspect opened fire on our agents,” said Lakewood Police Public Information Officer John Romero during a somber news conference. Bullets struck four officers and one civilian bystander before police returned fire, killing the suspect.
One officer succumbed to their injuries while three others remained hospitalized in stable condition. The civilian’s condition was not immediately released.
Department Mourns ‘Fallen Hero’
In a statement, the grief-stricken department called the slain officer a “fallen hero” while withholding their identity pending family notification. “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,” officials wrote.
The First Judicial District Critical Incident Response Team has taken over the investigation into the chaotic scene. Regional Transportation District officials confirmed the violence occurred aboard a Route 76 bus operated under contract in Lakewood.
Source: www.dailywire.com — https://www.dailywire.com/news/gunman-kills-police-officer-injures-others-during-shootout-on-public-bus