THORNTON, Colo. (KDVR) — One man is dead after an officer-involved shooting closed both directions of Interstate 25 on Monday.
Officers with the Thornton Police Department were called to the 8500 block of I-25 on a welfare check for a man who was walking in traffic. Officers said multiple people had called 911 to report that the man was causing cars to swerve on the highway, one caller said a car almost hit the man.
When officers arrived at the scene, they tried to talk to the 29-year-old. According to Thornton PD, while officers were talking to the man, he pulled out a weapon and was then shot by an officer.
The shooting happened before 8:20 a.m. I-25 was then closed from 84th Avenue to Thornton Parkway.
At 10:30 a.m., Thornton police confirmed the man had died from his injuries.
One person who found themselves stuck in the closure called the situation “insane.” One man spoke with FOX31 and said he was stuck on the highway for three hours.
Drivers inched along the highway for hours as officers continued to investigate.
“I saw a sign 84th was closed. We were just hoping to make it to Water World on the last day before it closes,” said one driver.
More than five hours after the shooting occurred, the Colorado Department of Transportation confirmed both directions of I-25 between 84th Avenue and Thornton Parkway had reopened to traffic.
No officers were injured in the shooting.
The investigation was handed over to the 17th Judicial District Critical Incident Response Team and all involved officers were placed on administrative leave.