According to Lakewood Police Chief Philip Smith, the incident began around 6:30 p.m. when officers responded to a report of a suspicious person attempting to board a bus at the intersection of West Colfax Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard. Police stated that a witness recognized the individual as a suspect in a hit-and-run that occurred earlier that day near Kipling and West 13th Avenue. When officers approached the suspect on the bus, he opened fire. Officers returned fire, and the suspect was pronounced dead at the scene. The three surviving officers sustained injuries ranging from serious to critical but were reported to be in stable condition at local hospitals. The condition of the injured bystander was not disclosed.
Law enforcement authorities noted that the suspect, Gabriel Garcia, was on parole at the time of the shooting. While police spokesperson John Romero initially stated the suspect “may have been involved” in the earlier hit-and-run, subsequent reports confirmed the connection based on witness descriptions. The First Judicial District Critical Incident Response Team has been assigned to investigate the shooting, which is standard protocol for officer-involved shootings. No formal charges or legal proceedings have yet been detailed in the provided materials beyond the initial identification of the suspect and the investigation into the fatal encounter.
Officer Graham joined the Lakewood Police Department in January 2019 and served in the investigations division, where he handled 322 cases with the Major Crimes team. Chief Smith described Graham as a dedicated officer who coached peers and was known for his compassion in the community. The department released a statement expressing profound sorrow for the loss of the officer, referring to him as a “fallen hero” who made the ultimate sacrifice. Governor Jared Polis issued a statement expressing heartbreak over the incident and offering condolences to the victims’ families.
RTD, the transit agency, stated it was “deeply concerned” by the shooting aboard one of its buses. The department has not released further details regarding the specific legal status or charges associated with the suspect’s earlier hit-and-run incident, nor have they detailed the specific legal framework governing the use of force in this instance. The investigation by the Critical Incident Response Team will determine the findings of the shooting. Funeral arrangements for Officer Graham are expected to be released in the coming days. No trial dates or sentencing schedules are applicable at this stage, as the suspect is deceased and the investigation is in its initial investigative phase.
