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Aurora Police Officer Kills Extortion Suspect

AURORA, Colo. (CBS4) - Police in Aurora are investigating a deadly shooting involving a police officer that happened Saturday evening.

Det. Robert Friel said the officer was in plain clothes investigating an extortion case. Around 7 p.m. the investigation brought him to the parking lot outside a Family Dollar store and O'Reilly Auto Parts where the officer was told he would meet the suspect. The two ended up in physical altercation. The officer fired several shots hitting the suspect several times.

The suspect was taken to a hospital where he died. His identity hasn't been released.

"The officer and others who witnessed this incident were transported to Aurora Police Headquarters where they will be interviewed by detectives," Friel said in a statement.

A knife was recovered from the scene.

Fernando Soltero, an employee of O'Reilly Auto Parts, heard the shots.

"There was a gentleman with a radio and I was assuming he was calling 911," Soltero said. "The passenger door was open and the gentleman who was sitting in the driver's side was leaning towards the passenger side, not moving. He was bleeding underneath his left armpit."

The officer hasn't been identified. He will be placed on administrative leave while the case is investigated. He wasn't injured in the confrontation.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Major Crime Unit Det. Tom Welton at (303) 739-6107.

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