2 Suspects At Large After Carjacking, Teen Suspect Dies After Shooting By Deputy
CENTENNIAL, Colo. (CBS4) - A carjacking suspect has died after an Arapahoe County Sheriff's deputy shot and injured the 17-year-old with a weapon following a carjacking, a pursuit and a crash early Wednesday morning.
The carjacking took place just before 5 a.m. in the 15800 block of E. Jamison Drive in unincorporated Arapahoe County. The teenage suspect was identified by the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office as James Hill. He died at the hospital.
"A deputy (saw) the vehicle leaving the area near East Broncos Parkway and South Jordan Road, the vehicle (attempted) to elude the deputy when he tried to make a traffic contact," said Arapahoe County Sheriff's spokeswoman Julie Brooks.
Juvencio Estrada had just arrived at work at a bagel shop on the corner. He heard the crash and went outside.
"I heard two big shots, gunshots and definitely went back inside and closed the door and was like, forget about this," said Estrada.
Another deputy in a patrol car about five miles away and the suspects in the stolen car then got close and then clipped each other, causing the crash at East Dry Creek Road near the intersection with South Yosemite Street.
"His vehicle (made) contact with the back end of the suspect vehicle," Brooks said.
One man who lives nearby heard the crash.
"Nothing will get you out of bed like 20 police cars with sirens blaring and then at the end of that, a couple of shots," said Jerry McKibben.
Five people got out of the stolen car, which was damaged, and then ran off. The deputy then chased a male who had a weapon and the deputy shot him. He was later identified as Hill.
Authorities say an underage girl was also taken into custody and two others are still on the run. Four K-9 units are involved in the search for a male and a female who are believed to be Hispanic.
"I think we're always concerned for people when we know that we have two suspects at large and we know that they committed an armed carjacking," Brooks said.
Police in Denver arrested another suspect in the case, a male, at the University Light Rail Station next to the University of Denver campus.
The victim in the carjacking wasn't hurt.
Dry Creek was closed at 9 a.m. between Yosemite and Quebec Street as part of the police investigation and it wasn't clear when it would reopen. Part of Yosemite was also closed in the area north and south of Dry Creek Road.
Authorities sent out a notification about the search for the suspects in a reverse 911 call. That went to approximately 2,200 homes. Security was also enhanced at two elementary schools near the scene of the car crash.
McKibben says it was an eventful morning and police are still in his neighborhood by afternoon.
He's also disappointed to hear that police believe all of the suspects are juvenile, "We live in a crazy world today, no question about that."
The two at-large suspects are a male and a female. Both are believed to be Hispanic and either are juveniles, or appear to be juveniles. Anyone with information on their identity or their location should call 911 immediately, or Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913 STOP (7867). Tipsters can also text to 274637 (CRIMES) then title DMCS & enter the message. Callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for up to $2,000. The tip line is answered 24 hours a day - 7 days a week.
