Lakewood Police: One officer killed, three wounded in bus stop shootout

One Lakewood police officer died and three colleagues were wounded after a gunfight broke out Thursday night at a bus stop in the Denver suburb.

Police were dispatched to the intersection of Colfax and Wadsworth at approximately 6:30 p.m. local time. The location is roughly five miles west of downtown Denver. Officers responded to a report of a suspicious person who may have been involved in a hit-and-run earlier that day.

John Romero, the public information officer for the Lakewood Police Department, said the suspect was attempting to board a Regional Transportation District bus when officers approached. Romero stated that the suspect opened fire within seconds of the agents arriving. A gunfight followed immediately.

All four officers were transported to local hospitals. One officer died after being taken to the hospital. The department has not yet released the conditions of the three wounded officers. A civilian was also injured in the incident, though the circumstances surrounding that injury remain unclear. The suspect was killed in the gunfire.

The department has not released the identities of the fallen officer, the wounded agents, or the suspect. Romero said the Jefferson County Critical Incident Response Team will lead the investigation into the officer-involved shooting.

At a press conference, Romero said the department's primary focus is supporting the family of the fallen officer. He told reporters that the Lakewood Police Department is a family and that they will support one another during this time.

On Friday morning, the Lakewood Police Department posted an update on social media. Neighboring agencies are now deploying patrol vehicles and uniforms throughout Lakewood. These outside officers are handling patrols and responding to service calls to give Lakewood staff the space to grieve and support each other.