Glenwood Springs police officer shoots, kills suspect at shopping center

DENVER ( KDVR ) – A Glenwood Springs Police Department officer shot and killed a man in an incident at the Glenwood Meadows Shopping Center Monday afternoon.

Police said two officers were on patrol at around 1 p.m. when they recognized a man who had an outstanding warrant related to firearms charges.

When officers went to contact the man, he allegedly drew a firearm. Police said the officers retreated and one officer discharged their weapon.

“As the suspect moved toward his vehicle, the officers took a secondary position and again engaged the suspect with gunfire,” police said in a press release.

Police said the suspect took refuge behind a vehicle.

“At that time, it was unknown if the suspect was wounded, attempting to rearm himself, clear a malfunction or exchange magazines with other ammunition for his firearm,” police said in the release.

According to Glenwood Springs police, the officers “held their position for an extended period” waiting for additional resources to get to the scene before making contact with the suspect.

The suspect was declared dead on the scene by Glenwood Springs Fire Department personnel.

No officers were injured in the incident, and the police department said only one officer fired a weapon.

Witness recounts incident

Pilot Charles Rice told FOX31 that he was grabbing lunch at the shopping center before flying back to his home in Texas.

“We started ordering our food and all the sudden a lady ran in with a baby and she had this distressed look on her face and about that time we heard a couple of shots,” said Rice. “I was just like, ‘Ma’am what’s wrong?’ And she said, ‘Somebody’s shooting out there.’”

Rice took a video of officers with their guns drawn while staying close to the restaurant.

“It was kind of like, well, I guess this is a good place to hold up,” he said.

Rice is thankful police were able to keep bystanders safe in a place he didn’t expect to be in danger.

“I never would’ve guessed Glenwood Springs,” Rice said.

The scene was estimated to be closed for around 8 hours, police said. Some stores in the shopping center may have closed for the day due to the incident, according to police.

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation assisted Glenwood Springs police with the crime scene, and the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office was assigned to investigate the incident.

The officer will be placed on routine administrative leave pending the investigation.

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