A Colorado parole officer was killed while trying to arrest a parolee Friday.
The incident happened when Colorado Department of Corrections Parole Officer Christine Guerin Sandoval and two other parole officers were trying to arrest parolee Justin Andrew Kula, 41, in a Colorado Springs parking lot, The Colorado Sun reports. Kula was in a vehicle, and he sped away as the officers approached.
As Kula fled, he struck Sandoval and another officer. Sandoval was killed, and the other officer was seriously injured.
“My heart is with all those affected by this horrible act of violence that occurred in Colorado Springs yesterday,” said Gov. Jared Polis in a statement. “I send my deepest condolences to Christine’s family, friends, and colleagues during this difficult time.”
Polis ordered that flags be lowered to half-staff on all public buildings on the day of Sandoval’s funeral.
Kula was arrested by Colorado Springs police, and he could face multiple charges, included manslaughter third-degree assault on a peace officer.
