2 Thornton police officers shot in Orchard Farms neighborhood north of Denver, suspect deceased

Two Thornton police officers were shot in the Orchard Farms neighborhood, just north of Denver, on Wednesday morning. The suspect was later found deceased inside a home.

Police responded to a residence on Columbine Street, in the 16000 block, after reports of gunfire around 8 a.m. Officers advised the public to avoid the area near 160th Avenue and York Street, but the alert was lifted at 10:37 a.m.

The incident began when a resident, walking their dog, heard gunshots and noticed light smoke coming from the home. The resident contacted police, who arrived at the scene shortly after 9 a.m. According to Thornton Interim Police Chief Greg Reeves, a male suspect emerged from the house with what appeared to be a long rifle and fired at the officers. Two officers were hit by gunfire or shrapnel, though their injuries were non-life-threatening, and they were taken to two separate hospitals.

Reeves added that officers returned fire, possibly hitting the suspect, who then retreated inside the home. The suspect was later found dead, believed to be the only person inside the residence.

A neighbor, Missy Kramer, shared that she had to be escorted by police in bulletproof vests to retrieve her dog from her home across the street. Kramer mentioned that the residents of the house involved were a woman and her adult son, though the suspect’s identity has not been released.

A heavy police presence, including several patrol cars and an armored vehicle, was seen in the area, and nearby streets were closed. Law enforcement agencies, including Westminster, Northglenn, the Colorado State Patrol, and the Adams County Sheriff’s Office, assisted Thornton police in the situation.

By 10 a.m., police were attempting to negotiate with the suspect, with a medical helicopter landing nearby as a precaution. All emergency alerts were cleared by 10:37 a.m. The investigation into the officer-involved shooting will be led by the Adams County Sheriff’s Office and the 17th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.