A man who died in an officer-involved shooting turned his gun on himself after being shot by an officer, police said.
The fatal shooting happened Sunday night in a shopping mall parking lot west of Kipling Street near Interstate 70.
On Tuesday the man was identified as 25-year-old Erick Michael Deleon. He died of a self-inflicted gun wound, according to the Jefferson County coroner’s office.
On Sunday night, police responded to the area on a report of a “suspicious person.” Police contacted Deleon, who gave officers identification. A background check revealed Deleon was wanted out of Denver on a felony warrant for domestic violence and stalking and that he was considered “armed and dangerous,” according to an Arvada police news release.
“Before police could arrest Deleon, he fled in his car,” the release said. Deleon crashed the vehicle on the south side of a Target parking lot and fled on foot. He was spotted walking south on West Kipling near the I-70 frontage road.
When confronted by officers, a second time, Deleon was carrying a handgun, police said.
“Deleon raised the weapon in the direction of Arvada officers,” the release said. “An officer fired … striking the suspect. Deleon then turned his weapon on himself and shot himself in the head.”
Deleon died at the scene. The shooting is being investigated by the Jefferson County district attorney’s office and a county law enforcement team comprising multiple agencies.
