Parker police shoot, kill Colorado gas station employee who pointed gun at officers, police say

Six Parker police officers were placed on administrative leave after a shooting that left a Colorado gas station employee dead. Officers responded to reports of gunshots heard in the area of Jordan Road and Mainstreet after multiple residents called 911 around 10:20 p.m. Monday. 

When officers arrived less than three minutes later, according to investigators, they found spent shell casings and live ammunition in the parking lot at the T Square gas station located at 17050 East Mainstreet.

That's when officers said they contacted the gas station employee, who officers said initially presented himself as a witness to the shots-fired call. Officers said that the employee became very agitated with officers and was acting erratically. They also said he lifted his sweatshirt multiple times, showing a gun that was tucked into his waistband. 

Officers said they made numerous attempts to plead with the 32-year-old suspect to de-escalate the situation and surrender. 

That's when officers said he became more agitated and grabbed his gun, pointing it at officers. Officers said they fired their weapons, striking the suspect. 

Officers called for medical assistance and began life-saving measures. Officers said the suspect was rushed to the hospital, where he died. No officers were injured. 

"Our partnership with the community is what makes this community so great," Josh Hans, Parker police spokesman, said at a news conference on Tuesday.

Hans said the investigation has not yet revealed how many shots were fired by the officers and how many struck the suspect.

The suspect has not been named by police, but Hans said they know who he is, and the department has no record of previous run-ins with him.

The 23rd Judicial District Critical Incident Response Team was called to investigate the shooting. The six officers were placed on administrative leave, per the Parker Police Department's policy. According to Parker police, this is the first police shooting for the department since 2017. 

"I think we're very pleased that officers were on the scene in less than three minutes. We don't get calls for shots fired here in Parker. We're a very safe, very quiet community," Hans said. "We're very proud of the fact that it has been eight years, but we don't want to diminish the fact that there was still a loss of life."

The shooting was captured on the officers' body cameras, but state law requires departments to offer that footage to the family of the deceased before releasing it to the public, according to Hans.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has additional information is asked to contact the 3rd Judicial District Attorney's Office.