Fort Lupton Officer Critically Hurt In Shooting

FORT LUPTON, Colo. (CBS4) - An officer with the Fort Lupton Police Department remained in critical condition Tuesday afternoon after a suspect fired a gun at police. The shooting happened in Fort Lupton on the 200 block of Ponderosa Place near Wagon Wheel Drive on Monday night.

Authorities said in a tweet officers went to the scene about 10:40 p.m. Monday after getting reports of an armed person in the area. When they got to the scene and made contact, the suspect started firing at officers. One officer was hit and rushed to the hospital by helicopter. That officer remained in critical, but stable, condition Tuesday evening.

"I was like, 'What's going on?' Because it's very uncommon for this neighborhood to have anything of this magnitude happen. And it's got this entire neighborhood thinking, 'What?'" said neighbor Cheyanne McCullough.

Officers fired back, hitting the suspect. That person is also in critical condition at the hospital and was also transported by a helicopter.

Neighbors told CBS4 the shooting appeared to be the result of a domestic dispute between the daughter in the family who lives in the house and her ex-boyfriend.

Dylan Minthurn lives on the block and was shocked to find out what had happened. He wants to become a police officer.

"An officer has got into a firefight with somebody and they got him (the suspect). I'm glad for that," he said. "It reminds me of why I want to do it more. More and more everyday there needs to be more people who stand up for what's right."

A tow truck took away a vehicle that had been parked by the home where the shooting took place.

"My thoughts are with the officer's family of course and knowing it could be my family," said McCullough, who comes from a law enforcement family.

The 19th Judicial Critical Incident Response Team is handling the investigation.

If anyone in the community has any information, please contact: Commander Roy Smith with the Greeley Police Department at 970-371-3706 or Sergeant Craig Bollig with the Greeley Police Department at 970-371-3932.