Early this Monday, an incident on the Auraria Campus in Denver led to a police officer being injured during a shooting. The campus at 9th St. and Colfax Avenue closed for approximately five hours to allow for a meticulous criminal investigation, as reported by Devra Ashby, Auraria Campus Marketing and Communications Director. Notably, the RTD light rail station at Colfax and Auraria was also temporarily closed, later resuming normal operations with heightened police presence, as detailed by Denver7.
The shooting occurred around 1:15 a.m. when two officers confronted a suspect allegedly involved in a vehicle trespass. The confrontation led to an assault on the officers and a subsequent chase. A brawl ensued, during which one officer deployed a taser in an attempt to subdue the suspect. The suspect then discharged several rounds, striking one officer in the arm, according to information from campus officials. While the suspect momentarily evaded capture, they were ultimately arrested by Auraria Campus and Denver police officers, as reported by CBS News.
The injured officer was released from the hospital after receiving treatment for the arm wound. The suspect, whose identity has yet to be disclosed, was also hospitalized as a precaution following the taser incident, though the exact ramifications of that event on the suspect are currently undisclosed. Auraria Campus Police has been working closely with Denver Police in the investigation of this matter.
Both agencies quickly mobilized and found the suspect fleeing, taking him into custody. Taken to the hospital for an evaluation of possible injuries was the suspect, despite the uncertainty of whether the taser made contact, as noted by 9NEWS. Current campus access for students and staff is maintained through the north and east entrances on Auraria Parkway and Speer Boulevard as the investigation continues.
