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Crime & Safety

Gunman kills police officer and wounds three others in Colorado bus shootout

Police in Lakewood, a Denver suburb, shot the suspect dead, and a bystander was also hurt, but officials have not named anyone involved.

11 news outlets reported this · Little coverage from liberal outlets
Liberal2 outletsan officer's death and what police knowCenter3 outletsthe shootout, police statements and community mourningConservative6 outletsa fallen officer honored, plus Colorado's gun laws
Published 4 min read
Overview

A police officer was killed and three other officers were wounded Thursday evening in a shootout in Lakewood, Colorado, a suburb about 5 miles west of downtown Denver. Police spokesperson John Romero said officers answered a call at about 6:30 p.m. about a suspicious person trying to board a public bus near West Colfax Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard. Authorities said the man might have been linked to a hit-and-run earlier that day.

Romero said the man opened fire within seconds of officers approaching, and officers fired back and killed him. At the news conference Romero said it was unclear whether the shooting took place on the bus or near it. In a later social media update, authorities said the man began shooting as officers boarded the Regional Transportation District bus.

A bystander was also injured, and police did not know how or what the person's condition was. Police said the three surviving officers were in stable condition. Names of the dead officer, the wounded officers and the suspect were not released.

Gov. Jared Polis said he was heartbroken and thanked law enforcement. The transit agency said it was deeply concerned and is cooperating with police.

Key figures
  • 1 officer killed and 3 wounded police casualties in the Lakewood shootout — The Boston Globe
  • around 6:30 p.m. when police arrived at the bus, by Romero's account — The Boston Globe
  • 30 or 40 gunshots heard by witness Teddy O'Brien, as he told KUSA-TV — The Seattle Times
  • about 5 miles (8 kilometers) west of downtown Denver location of the shooting — The Seattle Times

Three sides of the story

Liberal2 outlets

an officer's death and what police know

The Boston Globe runs the AP report, headlined "1 officer killed and 3 wounded in a firefight," and builds it on spokesperson John Romero's news conference. Officers had been called about a man trying to get on a public bus, and Romero said he was possibly tied to an earlier hit-and-run. When police arrived around 6:30 p.m., Romero said, the man fired.

The report says it was unclear whether the gunfire came on the bus or beside it, that another person was hurt for a reason not yet known, and that the condition of the three wounded officers had not been released. It closes with the transit agency's pledge to cooperate and the Colorado State Patrol's statement that its "hearts are broken." The New York Times headlines a shootout on a suburban Denver bus.

It reports that a civilian was hurt as well, that a man fired on officers who pursued him aboard, and that police shot the gunman dead.

Center3 outlets

the shootout, police statements and community mourning

UPI leads with "4 police shot, one fatally," placing the gunfire near West Colfax Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard. It quotes Romero on the department's concern for the fallen agent's family and carries Gov. Jared Polis's condolences. The Seattle Times runs the AP report.

It adds that authorities said in a social media update that the man began shooting as officers boarded the bus. It also quotes a witness, Teddy O'Brien, telling KUSA-TV that shots started "instantly" once officers got on. It describes dozens of officers outside the hospital, a bagpiper playing "Amazing Grace" and Denver Mayor Mike Johnston saying his city's police were assisting.

NewsNation reports that a Lakewood police agent died, three others and a civilian were hurt, and the suspect is dead. It quotes a spokesperson saying the suspect fired on officers "within seconds." The Seattle Times says police planned another update Friday.

Conservative6 outlets

a fallen officer honored, plus Colorado's gun laws

The Daily Wire's headline says a gunman kills a police officer during a shootout on a public bus. It quotes Romero saying the suspect opened fire "within seconds" and names Route 76 as the bus's route and the First Judicial District Critical Incident Response Team as the investigator. The New York Post runs a shared report bylined Michael Sinkewicz.

It carries Romero's message to the fallen officer's family and Polis's statement, and says the Jefferson Critical Incident Response Team leads the investigation. Breitbart's headline calls Colorado "Gun-Controlled." It cites Everytown for Gun Safety ranking the state 11th for gun control stringency, lists the state's laws, and gives the time as around 9:30 p.m. RedState opens by saying some things "transcend issues of politics and policy."

It describes the procession and the bagpipers and says the area around West Colfax and Wadsworth "isn't the best part of the city." An editor's note says Americans "overwhelmingly support" Trump's law and order agenda.

What a side did not mention
  • Liberal outlets did not mentionThe Jefferson County Critical Incident Response Team, serving the First Judicial District, is leading the investigation into the shooting. Reported by Fox News, New York Post, The Daily Wire
  • Centrist outlets did not mentionThe Jefferson County Critical Incident Response Team, serving the First Judicial District, is leading the investigation into the shooting. Reported by Fox News, New York Post, The Daily Wire
Where outlets disagree
All sources: 12 articles from 11 outlets

Liberal (2)

Center (4)

Conservative (6)

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