An encounter between Thornton police officers and a man in a parking lot escalated to gunfire Tuesday evening, resulting in the man being shot and seriously injured. The Thornton Police Department reported that officers responded to a location near East 120th Avenue and Grant Street for a man with an outstanding warrant at approximately 8 p.m., as per 9News.
Upon encountering the individual, officers attempted to arrest him. "As officers approached the male and told him he was under arrest, they gave him multiple commands, but he refused to comply and attempted to walk away," the department stated as per CBS Colorado. A Taser was deployed but proved ineffective, after which the man allegedly brandished a handgun, which led to officers firing their weapons and striking him.
The injured suspect was then taken to a hospital with what have been described as serious injuries. No information regarding his current condition, identification, or specific charges against him has been released. The 17th Judicial District Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) is set to investigate the shooting, and will eventually forward their findings to the district attorney's office for further review.
As per protocol following an officer-involved shooting, the officers who discharged their firearms have been placed on administrative leave. There were no injuries reported among the responding officers as reported by Denver7. The expansive scope of the investigation by the CIRT points to a comprehensive process, though the timeline for its completion remains unclear at this time.
