2 Thornton police officers shot in Orchard Farms neighborhood north of Denver, suspect deceased

One Thornton police officer was shot and another was struck by shrapnel in the Orchard Farms neighborhood north of Denver on Wednesday morning. The suspect was found deceased inside a home. 

Police had surrounded a home in the 16000 block of Columbine Street after shots were reported to have come from inside a home about 8 a.m.

Officers urged the public to avoid the area near 160th and York in the Orchard Farms community. That emergency alert was eventually lifted at 10:37 a.m.

Police said that they were alerted to the situation when a resident who was walking a dog on Wednesday morning, called police after hearing what appeared to be pops or gunfire from the home. That resident also reported seeing light smoke coming from inside. 

According to Thornton police, officers heard shots being fired from inside the home when they arrived on the scene. 

"Officers were on scene about 9:05, 9:06 and a male did present himself from the house with what we believe was a long rifle and began firing at our officers on the scene," said Thornton Interim Police Chief Greg Reeves. "Two of our officers did take shrapnel or gunfire." 

Reeves said the officers believe they were able to strike the suspect who then retreated back into the home. He was the only occupant in the home at the time. 

The officer who was shot suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries and remained hospitalized while the other was treated and released. 

When officers entered the home, they found an adult male, believed to be the resident of the home, who was deceased, according to Reeves. 

One neighbor said she came home from work to get her dog from inside her home after she heard about the gunshots. 

"My neighbor called me this morning when I was at work and apparently there were shots fired at the house across the street from us and there was smoke in the house and wanted to know if I knew any information about the neighbors. I know very little information about them because they kind of keep to themselves," said Missy Kramer, Orchard Farms resident. "They had to escort me with bulletproof vests into my house so I could get my dog."

She also told CBS News Colorado that there are two people who live inside the home, a woman and her son who is in his mid-40s.

Reeves did not release the identity of the suspect. 

During the investigation, CBS News Colorado's helicopter flew over the scene which showed a large police presence. There were several patrol cars parked outside the home and along the block. An armored vehicle was parked in the driveway of the home where the shots were being fired. 

The area had been cordoned off at Highway 7. York Street was closed from CO-7 to 161st Avenue and 161st Avenue was closed from York Street to Elizabeth Street. There were also several ambulances in the area. 

Just before 10 a.m., Thornton police posted on X that they were trying to negotiate with the subject. A medical helicopter landed in a nearby park as a precaution during the negotiations. 

There were several police agencies assisting Thornton police with the situation, including Westminster, Northglenn, the Colorado State Patrol and Adams County Sheriff's Office. 

All emergency alerts were lifted at 10:37 a.m. and Thornton police posted on X that there was no longer a threat to the area. 

As CBS News Colorado's helicopter continued to fly over the neighborhood after the alert was lifted, there was a truck parked across the street with a bullet hole in the driver's side window that was shattered. 

The Adams County Sheriff's Office and 17th Judicial District Attorney's Office will investigate the officer-involved shooting. 

Gov. Jared Polis released a statement following the incident in Thornton, "In Colorado, our law enforcement officers go above and beyond to put criminals behind bars and keep our communities safe. I am relieved to hear the two officers injured during the shooting this morning in Thorton are stable and wish them a speedy and healthy recovery. Gun violence has no place in Colorado, and we will continue to protect Coloradans, law enforcement officers and the communities they serve."