DENVER (KDVR) — Westminster police officers on Friday night shot a man they said was wanted on attempted homicide in a domestic violence incident.
Sgt. Ray Esslinger with the Westminster Police Department said that around 3 p.m., officers learned that a suspect wanted for attempted homicide in a domestic violence situation was in the area of the 5300 block of Billings Street in Denver.
Officers responded to the area and started doing surveillance and notified the Denver Police Department they would be in the area. Around 7:36 p.m., “the suspect exited the residence, and there was an exchange of gunfire” between the suspect and four officers, Esslinger said.
“The suspect was struck. The officers immediately rendered aid and called for assistance from the Denver Police Department,” Esslinger said. The suspect was transported to an area hospital, and was later pronounced dead. He has since been identified as 37-year-old Drew Lucero.
Esslinger said no officers were hurt.
Division Commander Matt Clark with DPD said the department was aware of Westminster’s surveillance operation in the city. Around 7:30 p.m., they received a call from Westminster that shots were fired at the location. DPD secured the scene. The shooting investigation will be conducted through the Denver-Aurora critical incident team.
“The information we have is very preliminary at this point,” Clark said, pointing out that investigators were still talking to witnesses and processing the crime scene.
Additional information and specifics on what happened is expected “after we have an opportunity to speak with the involved officers,” Clark said.
Esslinger did not immediately release more information on the attempted homicide that triggered surveillance of the man who was shot.
The Denver Police Department tweeted at 9 p.m. that they were investigating the “shooting involving officers” from the Westminster Police Department.
This story was updated after the suspect died with his identity.