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Greenwood Village homicide suspect still on the loose

Police are looking for Justin Kautz in connection with an Oct. 19 incident that left a woman dead.

GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo. — The search continued Thursday for a man wanted for first-degree murder in connection with an incident in a Greenwood Village parking lot in October.

Justin Kyle Kautz, 39, is suspected in the murder of Tara Marie Cathcart, 39.

Kautz is suspected of stealing items Oct. 19 from the Sierra store in the Cherry Hills Marketplace off South University Boulevard and Orchard Road. When police confronted him, he jumped into a white Toyota SUV. 

RELATED: Greenwood Village shoplifting suspect now wanted on murder charge

A viewer shared video with 9NEWS that showed a Greenwood Village Police officer next to the SUV, which had its driver's side door open. A woman was in the driver's seat, with Kautz in the passenger seat, the video shows. Police said the woman was Kautz's accomplice.

The video above aired on Oct. 21.

Credit: Greenwood Village Police
Justin Kautz

The police officer can be seen in the video reaching into the SUV and trying to stop the vehicle from being put into gear, but the vehicle was put into reverse and backed up at a high rate of speed. The officer was hit by the open door and partially dragged, the video showed.

The woman in the driver's seat can be seen partially hanging out of the SUV, as it's put into drive and speeds forward as two other police officers approach. The SUV then struck a vehicle and stopped as another responding officer in a marked patrol vehicle tried to block it in. The suspect's SUV then reversed at high speed, the video showed.

The video then showed the Toyota being put into drive and begin speeding away, striking two parked vehicles, causing the open driver's door to slam into the woman, who was still partially hanging out of the door. The woman is then seen in the video falling out from the SUV.

Credit: Greenwood Village Police
Justin Kautz

Officers rushed over and began providing care to the injured woman before she was rushed to a hospital. She died from her injuries. Her name has not been released by the Arapahoe County Coroner's Office.

Kautz is 5 feet, 9 inches tall and weighs 180 pounds. He has brown eyes, closely cropped hair and a distinctive goatee, according to police. He was last seen driving a black 2008 Chevrolet Impala LTZ.

Police said Kautz is possibly armed and dangerous, and the public is urged to use extreme caution if he is encountered. If you see him, call 911 immediately and stay away from him. 

Anyone with information is asked to contact Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867 or at www.metrodenvercrimestoppers.com. Tipsters may be eligible for a cash reward.

RELATED: Police identify suspect in death of man found in car in Lone Tree

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