UPDATE: Denver police say a suspect has been taken into custody. Latest information here.
ORIGINAL STORY:
DENVER — Two Denver police officers were shot by a barricaded suspect near 6th Avenue and Inca Street on Sunday afternoon. The area is roughly one mile south of downtown near the Santa Fe Art District.
Police received a report of shots fired about 11:41 a.m. Officers responded and found a shell casing on the sidewalk. At 1:29 p.m., two officers were shot. Other officers dragged them to safety.
Sources said that both the officers were shot in the abdomen and leg.
About 4 p.m., Mayor Michael Hancock confirmed the officers were receiving treatment at Denver Health Medical Center and are both in fair condition, meaning their vital signs are stable and they are conscious.
A third officer with DPD’s SWAT team was injured in an automobile crash while responding to the scene. DPD said that officer is in good condition.
Both officers injured in the shooting are men. According to DPD, one of the officers is a veteran of the force; the other is a rookie who recently graduated from the police academy.
“They demonstrated great courage in responding to this kind of call in the first place,” said DPD Chief Paul Pazen.
Pazen said he had spoken to one of the officers and reported he was in good spirits.
The suspect remains barricaded inside a home and has not been taken into custody.
Several dozen police officers are at the location.
DPD is urging people to avoid the area. Chief Pazen described the incident as a “very active situation.”
Police said residents near 6th and Inca should close windows and doors, as officers planned to deploy a chemical agent.
6th Avenue is shut down past Kalamath Street. Santa Fe Drive is closed at West 5th Avenue.
Around 5:30 p.m., flames were seen coming from the home where the suspect is believed to be located.