Man killed, Thornton officer injured after shooting

THORNTON, Colo. — A man is dead and an officer is injured after a shooting early Wednesday morning in Thornton. Teams of officers and police vehicles were seen by residents of the Creekside Place retirement home complex this morning.

The shooting happened near West Thornton Parkway and Gale Boulevard at around 3:30 a.m., according to police, when they were called to investigate a male who was suspected in an assault.

Police said that a struggle ensued with the suspect, who then grabbed for an officer's gun, which was in its holster. During that struggle, police said, the officer was shot. It was then that a second Thornton officer opened fire on the suspect, who was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police. The injured officer was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

The parkway is both directions was closed from Pecos for a time this morning as officers investigate.

Thornton Parkway is closed between Huron Street and Gale Boulevard due to a Thornton Police investigation.

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The detour route for westbound traffic is to go south on Huron Street to 88th Avenue, west on 88th Avenue to Pecos Street, north on Pecos Street to Thornton Parkway, and then west on Thornton Parkway.

The detour route for eastbound traffic is to go south on Pecos Street to 88th Avenue, east on 88th Avenue to Huron Street, north on Huron Street to Thornton Parkway, and then east on Thornton Parkway.

The incident will be turned over to the 17th Judicial District Critical Incident Response Team. The officer who shot the suspect has been on the force for a year and has been put on administrative leave as per standard operating procedure, according to a press release.

The identity of the suspect will be released by the Adam's County Coroner once next of kin have been notified and an autopsy has been performed.

Thornton Police first posted about the shooting at 5:55 a.m. on the social platform X.

This is a developing situation. This story will be updated when more information is available.

The Denver Gazette's news partners 9NEWS contributed to this report.