The Pueblo County Sheriff's Office has confirmed that four of its deputies have been placed on paid administrative leave, as per standard procedure, following an officer-involved shooting incident in Pueblo on Tuesday night. The deputies in question assisted Pueblo Police in what escalated into a deadly altercation, which left three Pueblo officers injured and the suspect deceased.
During the harrowing events, the Sheriff's Office responded to a request from Pueblo Police for K9 units to search for the gunman actively shooting at law enforcement personnel. According to the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office, the aggressive nature of the situation dictated swift action, and all involved, including the deputies, Police officers, and the Sheriff's SWAT team, remained on the scene throughout the night and well into the following day to ensure the safety of the community.
Pueblo County Sheriff David J. Lucero expressed his sentiments for the injured officers stating, "Our prayers go out to the injured Pueblo Police officers and their families," as per Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office. In fraught times, Lucero emphasized the strong bond and camaraderie between the county's law enforcement agencies.
The joint effort of the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office, Pueblo Police, Colorado State Patrol, and additional agencies under the Critical Incident Response Team continues as the investigation forges ahead. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation has taken the helm of the case, due to the involvement of both city and county law enforcement in the incident, a fact noted by Lucero and his praise of local deputies and police officers' commitment to the community. "This is a chilling example of the unknown risks our law enforcement officers face each day," Lucero said, acknowledging the uncertain dangers inherent in such public service roles.
