A Colorado sheriff’s deputy was killed and five deputies were injured after attending to a domestic disturbance call in a Denver suburb on Sunday, CNN reports. Two civilians were also shot by a suspect and, according to the Douglas County sheriff’s office, the suspect is “shot and believed to be dead.”
Occurring around 5:15 a.m. on Sunday at the Copper Canyon apartment complex in the suburb Highlands Ranch, the incident inspired police to encourage nearby residents to “shelter in place.” An emergency shelter for those displaced by the authorities’ presence was also established. According to NBC News, police also shut down a major highway south of Denver.
**Copper Canyon OIS Update**- Deputies responded to a domestic disturbance resulting in shots fired. 5 deputies shot by suspect. 1 deputy confirmed deceased. 2 civilians also shot by suspect. Suspect shot & believed to be dead & no longer a threat. #CopperCanyonOIS
— DC Sheriff (@dcsheriff) December 31, 2017
ABC News says that at a press conference Sunday afternoon, Sheriff Tony Spurlock revealed that what was believed to be a domestic disturbance call was actually completely unrelated to a domestic dispute. When four officers arrived at the apartment complex in response to the call, the suspect soon attacked and began shooting the deputies, who then called for backup. The Denver Post reports that the suspect used a rifle and fired at least 100 rounds.
“They went into the house at the same time,” Spurlock said. “All of them were shot very, very quickly. They all went down.”
#Breaking: we just heard gunshots in the distance. Police are now closing Colorado at otero. We are moving to the media staging area. @DenverChannel pic.twitter.com/7sZi7LjBiP
— Meghan Lopez (@Meghan_Lopez) December 31, 2017
Spurlock called the shooting “more of an ambush type of attack,” as the suspect was aware of the officers planning to enter the home. Three of the wounded had non-critical injuries and, as of Sunday afternoon, were treated and released from a nearby medical center. Four others, unspecified to be officers or civilians, were taken to a different hospital. Meanwhile, a motorcade accompanied the deceased officer, 29-year-old Deputy Zackari Parrish, from the same hospital.
DCSO Motorcade for our fallen Deputy #CopperCanyonOIS https://t.co/uU618Xw1qp
— DC Sheriff (@dcsheriff) December 31, 2017
The law enforcement procession is heading south on Broadway from Littleton hospital. pic.twitter.com/SMKwvg2KEq
— Larry Ryckman (@larryryckman) December 31, 2017
President Donald Trump expressed his sympathies for the victims via Twitter, writing, “We love our police and law enforcement.”
My deepest condolences to the victims of the terrible shooting in Douglas County @DCSheriff, and their families. We love our police and law enforcement – God Bless them all! #LESM
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 31, 2017