Police shoot and kill man in Summit County after emergency alert sent to residents
A Summit County sheriff's deputy shot and killed a man in the Summit Cove area near Keystone Sunday morning.
The Colorado Bureau of Investigation is now assisting Summit County in investigating the shooting.
The sheriff's office first reported the shooting on its Facebook page around 8:45 a.m. and said there was no ongoing threat to the community. The sheriff's office hasn't said much else as of 11 a.m., but the fatality was confirmed by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.
The person who was killed was identified by family as 18-year-old Charlie Foster, according to the Summit Daily newspaper. In that article, Foster's aunt Monica Vasquez says her nephew was experiencing a mental health crisis Sunday morning.
Emergency dispatch audio also recorded a Summit County dispatcher referencing a mental health crisis.
Foster's family declined to talk to a CBS News Colorado reporter in Summit County Sunday afternoon.
The shooting itself was alerted by the sheriff's office after an emergency alert was sent to nearby residents telling them to shelter in place due to a "police emergency."
"Take immediate shelter indoors. Close all windows and doors. Completely turn off any heating and air conditioning systems. This is not a test," the alert continued.
In a statement Sunday afternoon, the Summit County Sheriff's Office said Foster "pointed a handgun" at a deputy and a police officer, who then shot Foster. The sheriff's office said the deputy and officer then tried to render medical aid to Foster, but medics pronounced him dead at the scene.
"We recognize that incidents like this have a significant impact on our community, and we extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the individual who lost their life," Summit County Sheriff Jaime FitzSimons said in the statement. "We understand the pain and grief that follows such a tragic event, and we are committed to providing support and resources to those affected during this difficult time."
The two officers that fired their guns are now on paid administrative leave, as is standard procedure after police shootings. FitzSimons said his agency will be transparent in the investigation.
"We want to assure the community that we remain committed to building and maintaining trust through transparency," the statement continued. "We will provide updates on the progress of the investigation as they become available, while also respecting the confidentiality and legal considerations that may arise during the process."
Read the sheriff's office's full statement here:
The initial call appeared to come in around 7:25 a.m. in the 800 block of Summit Drive according to emergency radio dispatch audio.
Deputies and a dispatcher make reference to a person who's possibly armed with a gun. A dispatcher says over the radio that the call appears to be "related to a missing juvenile who's experiencing a mental health crisis."
At least one Summit County sheriff's deputy and at least one Dillon police officer arrived and an officer says over the radio they have the person at gunpoint.
Around 7:40 a.m., someone asks over the radio that a shelter-in-place be issued and as another person presses the "talk" button on their radio microphone, gunshots are heard over the radio.
It was not clear which officer or deputy fired their weapon or if Foster had or fired a weapon. His aunt told the Summit Daily that he had a BB gun while officers are heard on radio dispatch audio simply making reference to a weapon or gun.
It was also not immediately clear if any of the officers who responded had bodycams, but CBS News Colorado filed a public records request for footage of the shooting.
Local nonprofit Building Hope Summit County said it will be offering walk-in support to anyone affected by the shooting Monday, July 10 from 2 to 5 p.m. at Summit High School.
