DENVER -- One Douglas County deputy died and four more wounded along with two civilians Sunday morning at a Highlands Ranch apartment complex. The shooter was also shot and is believed dead, the Sheriff’s Office said in a tweet at 9:32 a.m.
The Sheriff’s Office announced at 10:02 a.m. that the slain officer would soon be moved from Littleton Adventist Hospital in a procession. “Expect heavy law enforcement presence and traffic congestion on Broadway, C470 and SB I-25,” the Sheriffs Office tweeted.
The incident began at an apartment near the 3400 block of County Line Road, according to Lauren Lekander, DCSO spokeswoman.
“We have multiple officers down,” said Deputy Jason Blanchard of the incident at Copper Canyon Apartments in Highlands Ranch. “We are not giving numbers or status at this point, we are still working on getting the suspect in custody.”
Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle’s son is among the wounded deputies, according to the sheriff’s Facebook page.
Residents have been told to stay inside and avoid windows and exterior walls.
Due to the size of the investigation an emergency shelter has been set up East Ridge Recreation Center, located at 9568 University Blvd. in Highlands Ranch. Anyone who has been displaced can go there, the Sheriff’s Department said.
Three of the injured were taken to Skyridge Medical Center in Lone Tree with non-critical injuries, said Linda Watson, a hospital spokeswoman. She couldn’t say if the injured were officers. Another four have been taken to Littleton Adventist Hospital, said Alyssa Parker, a hospital spokeswoman.
Parker couldn’t say how serious their injuries are.
Steven Silknitter lives in the Copper Canyon Apartments, where the shooting occurred.
He heard about the shooting when he was working elsewhere and called home waking up his fiance.
She woke to hear “a barrage” of gunfire in the dark, said Silknitter who has lived in the complex for a few years. “She was pretty scared. She kept saying how loud it was.”
Silknitter lived in Aurora during the 2014 Aurora Theater shooting. “Where do you move to? It’s everywhere.”
Multiple law enforcement vehicles, Douglas County Sheriff, South Metro and Littleton fire rescue vehicles have been coming and going from the scene.
“There is still a lot of activity out here,” Larry Ryckman, Denver Post editor at the scene, said at 9:30 a.m.
Vehicles at that time were both coming and leaving the scene.
Deputies were responding to a disturbance call when shots were fired from the home near Colorado Boulevard before 6 a.m., Lekander said.
Denver 7 reported hearing shots fired as a reporter arrived at the scene.
“We have SWAT out there setting up and preparing to go in right now,” Lekander said at about 7:15 a.m.
Video broadcast by Denver 7 shows an Arapahoe County Sheriff Bomb Squad truck at the scene.
In a Code Red the Sheriff’s office told residents to shelter in place, avoid windows and stay away from exterior walls.
An investigation is in progress and most of County Line Road is closed down from Colorado Boulevard to University Boulevard. C-470 is closed from Quebec Street to University Boulevard.
Parker Police Department, Lone Tree Police, Castle Rock Police and Colorado State Patrol are involved in the incident.
Here was the scene about an hour ago. At least eight ambulances arrived. @DenverChannel pic.twitter.com/CwKfN9XC9s
— Meghan Lopez (@Meghan_Lopez) December 31, 2017
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