LOVELAND – The suspect who died in an officer-involved shooting after threatening a customer at a pizza restaurant Monday night has been identified as 45-year-old William Rippley.
Officer Jennifer Hines was the only officer in the Pizza Ranch to fire at Rippley, who was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital, police say.
Hines and two other officers who witnessed the incident, identified as Greg Harris and Jay Smith, have been placed on administrative leave per department policy.
Hines is a decorated 10-year veteran of the Loveland Police Department.
Loveland Police released Hines' picture. No photo of the suspect was available.
Monday's incident began when Rippley was seen throwing a bicycle at westbound traffic on Eisenhower Boulevard shortly after 8 p.m., according to Loveland Police.
An off-duty officer saw what happened, prompting on-duty officers to arrive in marked vehicles. That's when Rippley ran away from police and into the kitchen of the Pizza Ranch. Authorities say he was armed with at least one knife.
The patrons and staff inside the restaurant were evacuated. As this was happening, police say Rippley grabbed a customer, prompting Hines to fire her weapon.
None of the officers nor the customer were injured during the incident.
Larimer County Coroner James Wilkerson determined Monday night that Rippley died of a gunshot wound to the abdomen.
Multiple agencies are investigating the circumstances of the shooting.
(© 2015 KUSA)
