Gunman identified after deadly shootout with Colorado State Patrol troopers
The gunman who was killed in last weekend's shootout with a Colorado State Patrol trooper has been identified. According to the coroner with Adams and Broomfield counties, the suspect has been identified as Victor Anthony De Santiago.
Santiago, 32, was shot and killed just after 1 p.m. in Westminster on U.S. 36 near Federal Boulevard when he fired multiple rounds at Colorado State Patrol Cpl. Tye Simcox and Simcox returned fire.
A U.S. citizen born in California, Santiago has an "extensive Colorado criminal history, beginning as a juvenile," Colorado State Patrol said in a statement on Tuesday.
Court records in Colorado show arrests for assault, domestic violence, DUI and drug-related charges. He pleaded guilty to attempted assault on a peace officer in 2022 and was released to community corrections earlier this year.
Investigators believe Simcox was targeted while he was pulled over in between two concrete barriers in his marked CSP vehicle doing paperwork. State patrol investigators said the driver of a black Chevrolet pickup truck, later identified as Santiago, was traveling east and fired multiple rounds from a handgun into the patrol car. He then pulled over and continued firing at Simcox, who got out of his car and returned fire, killing Santiago.
Simcox suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
He was treated and released from the hospital.
