BROOMFIELD, Colo. — A Denver Police Department (DPD) officer who was injured during a shooting with a suspect Thursday is recovering in the hospital, said Denver police.
Broomfield Police (BPD) said a DPD fugitive unit was in Broomfield working to apprehend a person of interest in a homicide investigation who was also wanted on a warrant. Around 3 p.m. on Sept. 29, they found him in a vehicle near East Midway and Sheridan boulevards.
The suspect, identified as 25-year-old Anthony Lainez, was fatally shot. Court records show he had an open warrant for his arrest in Jefferson County from April for menacing and assault. Denver Police on Tuesday declined to provide any information about the homicide he may have been involved with citing the "ongoing investigation."
Lainez was heading south on Sheridan in a white Ford Edge when he turned left and got into a crash with a blue Ford Explorer, police said. Lainez got out of his car after it spun out and tried to take a gray Toyota Corolla with someone inside, but was unsuccessful.
BPD said Lainez ran away from the scene and fired shots at the DPD officers. They fired back, killing him.
One officer was injured and was taken to the hospital with what DPD said was an apparent gunshot wound to the neck area. A spokesperson for the department said his injuries are not life-threatening. He was still in the hospital as of Oct. 4.
"He's a 20-year vet, and member of the fugitive team. I've talked to him and his wife," said DPD Acting Chief, Ron Thomas. "I think you can imagine what he's feeling right now. He's gotten such tremendous support from the community and law enforcement."
Thomas added, "I think it's important to recognize the fact that, while we're certainly thankful our officer looks like they're going to pull through this incident, there was a loss of life [today], and that's unfortunate."
Police said there were two children in the Explorer, but they were not injured.
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