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1 dead in officer-involved shooting after robberies, crash in Westminster

Police said the suspect was pronounced dead at the scene.

WESTMINSTER, Colo. — A 23-year-old man died in an officer-involved shooting involving three police departments Friday night after several armed robberies and a crash.

The suspect, later identified as Hunter Steven James Lowry, had committed several robberies while armed with a knife at auto parts stores throughout the northern metro area on Friday, according to a press release from the Westminster Police Department.

Just before 8 p.m., a similar robbery happened in Federal Heights along 84th Ave. A store employee confronted Lowry, who had a knife, and suffered a minor hand injury.

A few minutes later, a Federal Heights police officer located the suspect's Chevrolet Silverado at a 7-Eleven at 92nd Avenue and Pecos Street. Police said they don't think the suspect attempted to rob the convenience store.

As the man left the 7-Eleven, a Federal Heights officer tried to stop the vehicle, but Lowry drove away and crashed with two other vehicles at the intersection of 92nd Avenue and Federal Boulevard.

A man and woman who suffered injuries in the crash were taken to a hospital. Police said the extent of their injuries was unknown.

Officers with Thornton and Westminster police were in the area and saw the suspect run from the crash, according to the release.

Several officers chased Lowry and lost sight of him after he jumped into the back lot of a tire store, police said.

Officers said they heard what sounded like gunshots from within the fenced area, according to the release. Officers confronted the suspect as he climbed over a fence into a neighboring condominium complex.

Police said an officer deployed a Taser before several officers fired at the suspect. Two Westminster officers, one Thornton officer and one Federal Heights officer fired their weapons, according to the release.

According to Westminster Police, Lowry had a handgun but it is unknown whether he fired at officers.

Lowry was pronounced dead at the scene.

Multiple law enforcement agencies are investigating the officer-involved shooting, the traffic accident and the initial robbery.

Police said the Federal Heights officer was wearing a body camera. Thornton Police began their body-worn camera program in November, but the officers involved in the shooting had not been issued their cameras yet. 

According to Westminster Police, their department does not have a body camera program.

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