2 officers from Colorado auto theft task force shoot, injure alleged thief at Denver gas station

The suspect in a Colorado auto theft case is in the hospital after two law enforcement officers shot him on Tuesday at a gas station in Denver. It happened at a Sinclair at 620 Santa Fe Boulevard, and numerous bullet holes could be seen in the front glass door afterwards.

Colorado State Patrol Chief Matthew Packard said the suspect is 35.

Packard said after 9 a.m., a report came in about a stolen vehicle out of eastern Adams County, to the east of the Denver metro area. He described it as a barricade truck that was used at a construction project. The company that owns the truck called police and said the vehicle had a tracking device inside.

Members of the Colorado Metropolitan Auto Theft Task Force responded and then tracked the vehicle to the city with the help of the company.

"Shortly after 11 a.m. this morning, the suspect that was driving that vehicle entered inside the gas station here and was confronted by officers from that auto theft task force," Packard said in a news conference.

Packard said shots were fired at that point and that it's believed the suspect had a weapon. He said the law enforcement officers who fired their weapons were an Adams County Sheriff's deputy and a Colorado State Patrol trooper.

The suspect was stable at the hospital, according to Packard.

Santa Fe Drive was closed between 7th and 6th avenues during the investigation.

No law enforcement officers were injured.