Crime & Safety

Man Dies After Being Shot In Car By JeffCo Deputies

JeffCo Sheriff's deputies and Colorado State Patrol Officers shot into a stolen car that was driving toward police the sheriff's office said

JEFFERSON COUNTY, CO – A man was shot by Jefferson County sheriff's deputies and Colorado State Patrol officers and later died Sunday night, the JeffCo sheriff's office said.

The incident happened around 8:50 p.m. on Highway 6 near mile marker 267 near Clear Creek Canyon, according to a statement. Colorado State Patrol officers located a "suspicious vehicle" on the side of the highway around 8:20 p.m. checking the license plate, they discovered the car was stolen and possibly connected to an " attempted homicide in Lafayette over the weekend."

Inside the car, apparently sleeping, were an adult man and a juvenile female passenger, the sheriff's office said. When Colorado State Patrol officers, JeffCo Sheriff's deputies and Golden police officers tried to make contact with the passengers of the car, the male driver allegedly put the car into gear and moved forward.

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The state trooper and one of the JeffCo sheriff's deputies fired into the vehicle "to stop the threat," the press release said. the car drove off the road, down the embankment and "came to rest" at the creek. The male driver was taken to St. Anthony’s Hospital with gunshot wounds, where he later died. The juvenile passenger was also taken to the hospital, with minor injuries from the vehicle crash.

Investigators confirmed the car was associated with the attempted homicide and a pursuit in Lafayette this weekend. In addition, the man who was killed had warrants from Westminster for felony charges and Adams County on misdemeanor charges, the sheriff's office said.

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It was unclear if the juvenile would be charged for anything.

JeffCo's Critical Incident Response Team is conducting an independent investigation into the officer involved shooting. Arvada Police will lead the investigation, a statement said.

The name of the deceased man was not immediately released. The investigation is ongoing, the sheriff's office said.

Image via Shutterstock

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