LAKEWOOD, Colo. — Two people were taken into custody after the Lakewood Police Department (LPD) said they were shooting fireworks at a homeless encampment on Thursday.
At about 1:45 a.m., LPD received a reports of a vehicle driving near West Colfax Avenue and Teller Street, shooting fireworks at nearby homeless encampments, according to Agent Paul Osckel with LPD.
Several people living at the encampment were hit by the fireworks and burned, according to Shantell Anderson, who works at a day shelter next door.
A man who was living at the encampment confronted the two men in the vehicle and eventually threw a brick through the back window of the car, LPD said. The men drove away.
The man who threw the brick, known as Turbo, said the people in the car were circling the camp and yelling at the people staying there.
"They launched another mortar at us and then they kept circling saying, 'You know, 'f*** the homeless, f*** you guys you pieces of s***,'" Turbo said.
As a Lakewood Sargent was interviewing Turbo about the fight, the car turned around and began driving back to the scene, Osckel said. The Sargent was fearful that the car may try to strike him and he fired one shot, hitting the car, according to Osckel.
Nobody was injured in the shooting, Osckel added.
The two men inside the car were taken into custody and were later released pending charges.
Police closed westbound West Colfax Avenue at Pierce Street for the investigation. Drivers can detour northbound on Pierce Street to West 20th Avenue to Wadsworth Boulevard.
The shooting involving the Lakewood Sargent will be investigated by the Jefferson County Critical Incident Response Team. That officer has been placed on administrative leave, per policy.
>Video below: Agent Paul Osckel with LPD gives an update on the incident.
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