Police Shoot, Kill Child Sex Assault Suspect At Mall In Longmont

LONGMONT, Colo. (CBS4) -- Police shot and killed a sexual assault suspect at an outdoor mall in Longmont Thursday night. It happened at the Village at the Peaks Mall at 1250 South Hover Road at about 9:45 p.m. Police say "several" shoppers witnessed the shooting.

Three officers were attempting to arrest 28-year-old Gillie Thurby, who was wanted on a failure to appear warrant in a child sex assault case in Boulder County, according to Deputy Chief Jeffrey M. Satur with the Longmont Police Department.

The officers approached Thurby near the fire pit outside the Regal Cinema.

Satur said the officers used a Taser on Thurby to try to subdue him, but he pulled a gun from his waistband.

Two officers fired multiple shots and the man died at the scene.

Thurby was facing charges including sexual assault on a child by a person in a position of trust/pattern of trust, aggravated incest, and sexual exploitation of a child. Investigators say he had more than 20 videos of child pornography on his cell phone and tablet.

No officers or bystanders were hurt in the shooting.

The Boulder County Investigations Team and the Longmont Police Department are investigating the shooting. The involved officers who fired their weapons will be placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, which is standard procedure.

Any witnesses who may have seen this incident are asked to call Detective Sergeant Matt Cage of the Longmont Police Department at (303) 651-8520.