A wanted suspect was shot and killed and three Denver police officers were injured in a confrontation Wednesday in the southwest part of the city.
Chief Robert White said at the scene that the officers’ injuries were believed to be minor and not from gunshot wounds. Authorities said two of the officers were taken to a hospital.
White said the suspect was battling with one of the officers over his duty weapon when shots were fired.
“The individual was fighting with one of the officers over his particular service weapon,” he said. “Several shots were fired. The individual was struck.”
Police have mobile crime lab and tent set up at shooting scene. pic.twitter.com/8qkEHvHcGC
— Jesse Aaron Paul ☀ (@JesseAPaul) August 31, 2016
He added: “Be mindful, this is very preliminary.”
The encounter happened about noon on the 2600 block of West Bates Avenue, a residential neighborhood. Police said officers were in the area for an attempted “pickup,” but did not immediately elaborate.
White said the officers were searching for the wanted suspect in a home when he fled out a back window as officers tried to contact him. Officers chased him before the fatal confrontation happened in the middle of the street.
Sharon Brusseau, who lives on the block, said she saw police patrol cars driving slowly on her street just before the confrontation and heard two gunshots about 15 minutes later.
“I heard the cops hollering back and forth to each other: “Are you OK? Are you OK?’ ” she said.
Investigators were combing the expansive scene, which was cordoned off with yellow and red crime scene tape. A Denver police mobile crime lab was parked in the center of the area, and a white tent was erected in the middle of West Bates Avenue.
Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey, whose office is responsible for reviewing police-involved shootings, was at the scene.
DA Morrissey leaving the scene pic.twitter.com/SmOWZL7CEy
— Jesse Aaron Paul ☀ (@JesseAPaul) August 31, 2016
About two hours after the confrontation, people were gathered and consoling each other in the street just west of where the suspect apparently was killed. One woman was sitting on the pavement and appeared to be crying.
A group of people are consoling each other just outside of where the confrontation appears to have happened. pic.twitter.com/9wqHDt3CFw
— Jesse Aaron Paul ☀ (@JesseAPaul) August 31, 2016
Further details on the confrontation, including the slain suspect’s name and age, were not released immediately. White did not have details on what the suspect was wanted for, he told reporters, but it appeared there were several warrants for the person’s arrest.
“I am unclear on exactly what the warrants were,” White said, adding that some were for felony offenses and others on for misdemeanor accusations.
The three officers involved will be placed on administrative leave pending the results of an investigation into the encounter.
West Bates is closed between South Bryant Street and South Decatur Street as investigators scour the scene.
The incident is the second time in a week Denver officers have shot and killed someone. On Saturday, an officer fatally shot a man armed with a knife after police responded to an early-morning call from a woman who said she had been involved in an altercation with the man and that there were warrants for his arrest.
The man fled to an attic and threatened the two officers with a 6-inch hunting knife. Officers ordered him to drop the knife and unsuccessfully used a Taser to stop him before one of the officers fired shots. The Denver coroner identified the dead man as Terry Salazar, 49.
