Two Colorado State Patrol troopers were wounded Tuesday morning after a traffic stop turned into a shooting west of Woodland Park, prompting a large law enforcement response and a temporary Blue Alert across the area.
The shooting happened around 7:15 a.m. Aug. 25 near U.S. Highway 24 and Piney Point Lane, close to Crystola in Teller County. State Patrol officials said the troopers were attempting to stop a vehicle when shots were fired.
Both troopers were wounded. One suffered serious injuries, while the other sustained minor injuries, according to officials. The troopers were able to get themselves to a hospital for treatment, and authorities later said both were expected to recover. One of the troopers was subsequently released from the hospital.
The incident triggered a search across nearby neighborhoods as deputies and other law enforcement agencies looked for the person believed to have opened fire.
Suspect Found After Community Alert
The Teller County Sheriff’s Office said the suspect was believed to have been driving a blue Subaru Impreza. Authorities searched areas including Westwood Lakes and Woodland West after the vehicle fled the initial shooting.
A Blue Alert was issued by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation while the suspect remained at large. The alert was later deactivated after authorities located him.
A nearby homeowner reportedly recognized the suspect after seeing information distributed through the reverse 911 system and Blue Alert. Authorities were then notified, helping law enforcement locate the suspect.
The sheriff’s office had also issued a shelter-in-place order for residents near Trout Creek Road and Piney Point Lane. That order was later lifted.
Gunfire Erupts Again During Police Response
The search ended with another exchange of gunfire near a residence close to Highway 24.
According to Teller County Sheriff Jason Mikesell, officers and deputies encountered the suspect and he opened fire. Law enforcement returned fire, and the suspect was struck.
No deputies were reported injured during that confrontation. The suspect later died from his gunshot wounds.
The investigation into both the shooting of the troopers and the later officer-involved shooting is continuing.
Troopers Expected to Recover
Colorado State Patrol Chief Matthew Packard said during an afternoon news conference that both troopers are expected to recover.
The identities of the two troopers have not been released.
Packard also praised the response from law enforcement agencies that joined the search, saying the incident prompted a coordinated effort to find the suspect.
Teller County officials said the response involved multiple agencies, with officers and deputies securing the area while investigators worked to determine exactly what happened.
The Fourth Judicial District Attorney’s Office said the shootings will be investigated as part of the process surrounding the officer-involved shooting.
For residents in the affected area, the immediate emergency ended after the suspect was located, the Blue Alert was canceled and the shelter-in-place order was lifted. The investigation remains ongoing.
