Man dead, deputy injured after liquor store robbery led to standoff

MONTEZUMA COUNTY - One man is dead and at least one sheriff's deputy was injured after a standoff situation outside the home of a suspected robber north of the town of Cortez.

The Montezuma County Sheriff's Office says the man who was in a standoff with deputies is dead.

Deputies say the owner of Mac's Liquor Store identified Joseph Karjanik, 53, as the suspect after he reportedly robbed the liquor store Monday at around 6:30 p.m.

By Tuesday morning, deputies went to Karjanik's home with an arrest warrant but he refused to leave the house.

After deputies shot teargas into the home, Karnajik started firing gunshots, according to the sheriff's office. This happened around 3 a.m.

One of the responding deputies was hit by the gunfire and sustained minor injuries but was not hospitalized.

Authorities say a robot went into the home around 12:45 p.m. and found Karjanik dead.

Multiple jurisdictions responded to assist with the standoff including the Cortez, Durango, La Plata and Farmington Police departments' SWAT teams as well as the sheriff's department's SWAT team.