Brighton homicide ends in crash, carjacking, and shooting

Police are investigating a string of crimes that started with a homicide in Brighton and ended in a shooting in Adams County.

The Brighton Police Department said they responded to the report of a homicide in the 200 block of N. 11th Avenue at around 8:44 a.m. Saturday. Responding officers discovered a 72-year-old man who reportedly died from a violent assault.

During the investigation, officers discovered the suspect was a family member of the victim. Other family members told police the suspect had been acting erratically and was driving a silver Honda CRV.

Around 9:37 a.m., the Thornton Police Department was called to the scene of a crash involving the suspect's vehicle near the 4700 block of E. 168th Avenue. The suspect reportedly carjacked a passerby at knifepoint when they stopped to help and fled the scene in the victim's Camaro.

Both police departments and the Adams County Sheriff's Office began searching for the stolen Camaro.

Authorities said a deputy soon spotted the vehicle near 160th Avenue and Washington Street at the home of a family member of the suspect and the homicide victim. Officials said the suspect fired at the deputy when they were confronted. The deputy reportedly returned fire, killing the suspect.

The officer-involved shooting is under investigation by the Adams County Critical Incident Team. Authorities said the coroner's office will release the identities of the victim and suspect at a later time.