A Mesa County sheriff’s deputy was removed from life support late Wednesday, about two days after he was fatally shot by a teen suspect.
Deputy Derek Geer’s organs were removed for donation before his death.
“On behalf of Deputy Geer’s family and the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office, words cannot adequately express our gratitude for the outpouring of support and compassion from our community during this most difficult time,” Sheriff Matt Lewis said in a statement. “The support we have and continue to receive are allowing us to grieve and begin to heal.”
Geer was shot Monday morning when authorities say he confronted 17-year-old Austin Patrick Holzer.
Holzer was wanted for violating probation on a sex offender charge when the fatal confrontation happened. The teen was taken into custody shortly after the shooting.
Mesa County District Attorney Daniel P. Rubinstein said Wednesday that Holzer would be charged with either first- or second-degree murder once Geer was removed from life support.
The formal process of amending the accusations is expected to happen early next week. Holzer also will be charged with possession of a functional and unmarked firearm from which identifying numbers were removed.
Investigators say Holzer shot Geer several times with a handgun after being questioned by the deputy about being armed.
The teen ran during the encounter and Geer fired his stun gun. Holzer then opened fire, authorities say.
Geer was bleeding heavily from his face and had a pulse so weak a first responder could not feel it following the shooting, dispatch recordings show.
“I have an officer down,” a man said over his police radio. “I have a wound to his face — bleeding heavily.”
“I need an ambulance!” the man then called, according to dispatch recordings archived on Broadcastify.com.
Geer, 40, was a U.S. Navy veteran and had served with the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office since October 2001. He was a married father of two children, ages 13 and 11.
Funeral services will be held at Canyon View Vineyard Church, located at 736 24½ Road, on Monday, Feb. 15 at 1 p.m.
Jesse Paul: 303-954-1733, jpaul@denverpost.com or @JesseAPaul
