LAKESIDE, Colo. (KDVR) — Police shot and wounded a man threatening an officer with a box cutter Tuesday night in Lakeside.
At 4:27 p.m., LPD said Walmart employees at the store located at 5957 West 44th Ave. reported someone shoplifting and the suspect was walking eastbound through the Walmart parking lot.
An LPD officer arrived a minute later and saw the male suspect at a Murphy Express gas station at 44th Avenue and Depew Street.
According to LPD, the officer spoke to the suspect, and that’s when the suspect advanced toward the officer wielding a box cutter. The officer retreated to the back of their patrol vehicle and the suspect stopped at the driver-side door.
The suspect continued to move toward the office while holding the box cutter and the officer drew their weapon. LPD said the officer made multiple verbal commands for the suspect to comply.
LPD said the officer continued to move away from the suspect when he fell to the ground. The suspect continued to advance toward the officer, and that is when the officer shot the suspect in the leg.
“He lunged at the officer, kind of in a charging fashion. The Lakeside officer fired shots at the suspect. The suspect was struck by gunfire,” Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Jenny Fulton said.
Multiple LPD officers arrived on scene. According to officers, the suspect repeatedly stabbed himself in the neck with the box cutter while screaming, “Kill me!” Officers were able to kick the box cutter away from the suspect.
The suspect was handcuffed and transported to the local hospital where he remains in the intensive care unit after surgery.
No officers were injured.
Anyone who may have information on the incident is asked to call Lakeside police at 720-757-7247 or Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867.