Teen Accused Of Murdering Mesa County Deputy Will Be Tried As An Adult

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (CBS4) - A Mesa County teenager has been charged as an adult in the murder of a sheriff's deputy.

Austin Holzer, 17, has been charged with first-degree murder and 10 other counts in connection with the fatal shooting of 40-year-old Mesa County Sheriff Deputy Derek Geer on Feb. 8.

Geer responded to 911 reports of a masked man with a gun near Grand Junction's city limits around 11 a.m. When Geer contacted Holzer the teenage suspect allegedly resisted arrest and tried to run.

Geer, who responded alone, pinned Holzer to the ground and administered his Taser, according to witness accounts. After being tased, Holzer reached into his pocket and shot Geer at close range. The deputy was struck four times.

In his statement to investigators, Holzer may have been suicidal and tried killing himself before shooting Deputy Geer.