A Lakewood police officer is dead and three others are hurt after a gunfight by an RTD bus in a busy Denver-area intersection.
Story Highlights
- Four Lakewood officers were shot; one died at the hospital, three survived with injuries.
- Police say a suspect near an RTD bus opened fire; officers shot and killed the suspect.
- A bystander was also injured during the exchange, officials said.
- The shooting unfolded at West Colfax Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard, a major crossroads.
What Police Say Happened at Colfax and Wadsworth
Lakewood Police Public Information Officer John Romero said officers approached a suspect by an RTD bus near West Colfax Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard on Thursday evening. Romero said the suspect opened fire, hitting four officers, before police returned fire and killed the gunman. The department said one officer died at a hospital, while three others were injured. Officials reported that a bystander was also hurt during the shooting, adding to the toll near the crowded transit stop.
Multiple outlets reported the same core facts within hours. CBS News Colorado stated that four officers were shot, one fatally, and that the scene involved an RTD bus at Colfax and Wadsworth. United Press International likewise reported one officer killed, three officers wounded, and a civilian injury. That outlet also noted the suspect died after police fired back. These details align with statements delivered at the police news conference and early agency updates.
Eyewitness Accounts and a Chaotic Scene
Local television coverage carried eyewitness accounts that described a “barrage of gunfire,” a vehicle colliding with a bus, and people ducking and running from the intersection. Reporters on scene showed broken glass and damaged property along the busy roadway. The accounts help explain the spread of injuries in a public area. Early stories varied on whether shots came from inside the bus or beside it, but all agreed the exchange happened at the bus location.
Police and reporters identified the intersection as one of the area’s busiest, with heavy car traffic and transit riders at rush times. That density can raise the stakes when bullets fly. It also speeds the police response, which in this case drew a large presence and led authorities to shut down streets. Officers urged residents to avoid the area while they secured the scene and began the standard outside review of the shooting and its aftermath.
Why This Incident Resonates Beyond Lakewood
This case reflects a wider pattern in police shootings. First reports often come from the department, with fuller answers later from video, ballistics, and witness interviews. A national study by the National Police Foundation and the Major Cities Chiefs Association reviewed 1,006 officer-involved shootings across 47 agencies, showing how common and complex these events are. In many recent cases, camera footage and public clips help explain what happened once investigators release them.
A procession paid tribute to a Lakewood Police agent killed in a shooting on a RTD bus Thursday evening.
For more: https://t.co/AT7vb3HXdK pic.twitter.com/RMBFFbJwO2
— 9NEWS Denver (@9NEWS) November 6, 2026
For Lakewood, the next steps will likely include releasing body-worn camera footage when allowed, mapping bullet paths, and clarifying how the bystander was injured, as other jurisdictions now do as a matter of practice. These steps do not change the tragic headline: a police officer died serving the public, three fellow officers were hurt, a civilian was injured, and a suspect was killed. But they can give the community a clearer account of each moment in a fast-moving gunfight.
Sources:
coloradosun.com, abcnews.com, cbsnews.com, upi.com, axios.com
