Deputies Involved In Fatal Shooting Were In Previous Shootout

DENVER (CBS4) - The two Denver sheriff's deputies involved in Wednesday morning's fatal shooting near downtown Denver have previously been involved in violent episodes while serving felony warrants.

Multiple sources have identified the deputy who was shot in the hand Wednesday morning as Donald Travis, a 16-year veteran of the department. Sources say his partner, Deputy Eric Givens, fired multiple shots, killing a female suspect who fired at the deputies.

Denver police and the Denver Sheriff's Department have declined to release the identity of the deputies involved in the Wednesday morning incident. The deputies were serving a warrant on a woman at a home in the 300 block of Park Avenue West when the shootout took place, according to Denver police.

RELATED: Denver Deputy Sheriff Shot, Suspect Dead

Travis and Givens were attempting to contact the woman in connection with multiple felony warrants for burglary, assault and harassment.

The two deputies have worked as a team for years, serving felony warrants for the sheriff's department. In 2008, the city recognized them for having served 306 warrants for the year -- three times as many as the previous year.

In 2010, Givens and Travis attempted to serve a felony drug warrant on a man on Knox Court when the man slipped away from the two deputies. Authorities said Brendan Cook jumped into an SUV and tried to flee, running his vehicle into Travis in the process. Givens fired at least one shot at Cook during the melee. Travis received minor injuries and was briefly hospitalized.

The Denver Sheriff's Department awarded him its Medal of Valor in 2010 for his actions.

CBS4 has not been able to make contact with Deputy Travis or Deputy Givens for comment.

- Written by Brian Maass for CBSDenver.com