Man in custody, woman dead after shooting at Broomfield apartment complex

Police responded to Arista Flats Apartments on Central Court in Broomfield and said a man fired a gun toward neighboring units and the parking lot.

BROOMFIELD, Colo. — A man is in custody after he was shot by officers and a woman died at an apartment at the Arista Flats apartments on Central Court in Broomfield shortly before 10 a.m. Thursday.

The apartment complex is near the 1stBank Center between U.S. 36 and Wadsworth Parkway. Police responded there for a report of a disturbance around 6:30 a.m. and said the situation quickly turned dangerous.

“When they got to one of the units inside the complex, they heard a male making threats and shortly thereafter they heard gunshots,” said Broomfield Police Department spokeswoman Rachel Haslett. “He was shooting not only at surrounding units but also the parking lot.”

Those actions prompted police to call it an “active shooter” situation. They also issued a shelter-in-place order and evacuated some residents. Haslett said they were aware of at least one person who was in the unit with the man and said he was “threatening to hurt people.”

“So next door to me, I heard some loud banging almost 7 a.m.,” said Reya Rossel. “And I heard some screaming and some yelling and then a few minutes I did hear some loud noises, which I later realized were gunshots. A lot of them.”

Rossel said she believed the shooter was one of her neighbors.

Around 9:45 a.m. when police said they forcefully entered an apartment, 9NEWS crews reported hearing a loud bang and then gunfire. Broomfield Police spokeswoman Rachel Haslett confirmed at a news conference there was an “exchange” of gunfire at that time. Police said several law enforcement officers fired their weapons. They have been placed on administrative leave, which is department policy.

According to 9NEWS crews at the scene, first responders appeared to be using a ladder to access a second-floor unit.

Shortly after, a man was brought out on a stretcher and taken away by ambulance. A woman, who Haslett described as a hostage, was also taken away by ambulance. Broomfield Police later said she had died of a gunshot wound. Her name has not yet been released.

Police were expected to remain at the complex throughout the day as they investigate the large crime scene. Haslett noted that multiple cars and buildings in the complex were struck by gunfire.

“We have to process where those gunshots went, look for any of those casings, determine anything that may have happened, determine how many shots he may have fired,” Haslett said.

Evacuated residents who are unable to enter their building can go to the north side of the First Bank Center. From there they will be taken to the Broomfield Community Center where a temporary evacuation center is being set up.

Police said the shooting suspect is a 34-year-old man, but his name has not been released. He was shot by law enforcement officers before he was arrested and was taken to the hospital with serious injuries, according to police.

Multiple law enforcement officers had minor injuries and were treated and released.

During the standoff, Jefferson Academy was on secure status out of an abundance of caution.

Residents of the complex who did not receive shelter-in-place notifications are encouraged to sign up for alerts by going here.