On the evening of 5 November 2026 near the intersection of West Colfax Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard in Lakewood, Colorado, one Lakewood police officer was killed and three others were wounded after a suspect opened fire, police said.
Lakewood police responded at about 6:30 p.m. to reports of a suspicious person attempting to board a Regional Transportation District bus.
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The individual may have been involved in a hit-and-run earlier that day. Within seconds of officers approaching, the suspect opened fire.
Officers returned fire and the gunman was killed at the scene. A bystander was also injured and taken to hospital.
Lakewood Police spokesperson John Romero confirmed that four officers were shot and transported to local hospitals, where one died of their injuries.
The three surviving officers were later reported in stable condition. “We are very sorry to report that one of those agents has been pronounced dead of their injuries,” Romero said.
The names of the officer, the wounded colleagues and the suspect have not been released.
Colorado Governor Jared Polis said he was heartbroken by the loss and offered condolences to the family and colleagues of the fallen officer.
The Lakewood Police Department described the officer as having made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the community.
The First Judicial District Critical Incident Response Team is investigating the shooting as standard protocol.
The incident occurred on or near the bus at a busy intersection about five miles west of downtown Denver.
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Authorities asked the public to avoid the area while the investigation continued. Further details are expected as the inquiry progresses.
Peculiar Adirika is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, business, and public affairs.
