A neighbor called police and said they heard gunfire and saw smoke inside a home about 8 a.m. in the 16000 block of Columbine Street.
THORNTON, Colo. — Two officers were shot and the shooter was later found dead inside a home that police surrounded for several hours Wednesday morning, police said. The officers’ injuries were not life-threatening.
“We are greatly concerned about what happened in this neighborhood,” said Interim Thornton Police Chief Greg Reeves. “Not only for our officers but the residents who called this home. Our community has been shocked by the events that occurred this morning.”
Officers initially responded to the home in the 16000 block of Columbine Street about 8 a.m. Wednesday.
“They were called by a citizen who was out walking their dog. They had walked by the house in question and believed that they heard popping sounds – what they believed was gunfire, as well as some light smoke inside,” Reeves said.
Officers arrived and surrounded the home but could not make contact with anyone inside. They spoke with other neighbors who also believed they heard gunfire from inside the home, Reeve said.
About an hour later, around 9:05 a.m., a man came out of the home.
“A male did present himself from the house with what we believe is a long rifle and began firing at officers on scene,” Reeves said.
Two officers were struck by either bullets or shrapnel, Reeves said. 9NEWS reporter Briana Fernandez, who was at the scene, said she heard one of the injured officers say he had been shot in the arm.
Officers returned gunfire, and the man retreated inside the house, Reeves said. He said they believed the man had been hit and was likely wounded.
About 15 or 20 minutes later, additional crews arrived and put up a drone that showed the man inside the home. SWAT officers made their way in and confirmed the man was dead. Reeves said they did not know whether he was killed by officers or whether he took his own life.
Due to the nature of the shooting, Reeves said a medical helicopter was called to the scene as a precaution.
The man has not been identified, but Reeves said he was a resident of the home and that no one else was inside the house with him.
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