LAKEWOOD, Colo. — An armed man was shot and killed by Lakewood police officers Wednesday morning after police say a menacing call at a nearby store escalated to an alleged carjacking.
Officers with the Lakewood Police Department were first called to a report of menacing at around 10:20 a.m. inside the Walmart at 440 Wadsworth Boulevard. Staff had reported that a man had threatened them with a gun about five to seven minutes before they called police, according to the department.
According to John Romero, public information officer for the police department, the suspect took off on foot and police later received a call that an elderly woman, who was getting into her van, was threatened by the armed suspect in the area of W. 4th Avenue and Zephyr Street. The suspect then took the woman's car, police said.
His description matched the suspect from the Walmart incident.
Lakewood police tracked the suspect driving through north Lakewood neighborhoods before making chase when he refused to stop, police said.
“Since we knew he was armed, a pursuit was authorized by management," Romero said. "We were able to chase the suspect to the area right here on the off ramp at 6th Avenue and Garrison."
Following a collision on the off ramp, Lakewood police officers confronted the suspect and demanded he get out of the car with his hands up.
“The suspect then got out, had a gun and was then shot by Lakewood police officers," Romero said. "That suspect has been pronounced dead at the scene."
Police later added that when he exited the vehicle, the suspect "immediately pointed his gun at agents."
Six Lakewood officers fired their weapons, police said. Nobody aside from the suspect was injured. Romero said the suspect's gun was recovered at the scene.
The suspect has not yet been identified pending family notification. The Jefferson County Critical Incident Response Team is investigating the shooting.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
