LONE TREE | Two people were killed Wednesday after a shootout with police in a Lone Tree light-rail station that occurred as deputies checked on a car the two were in that had missing license plates, authorities said.
Six deputies were involved in the shootout, including one who had a bullet narrowly miss hitting him when it flew through his shirt sleeve, said Douglas County Sheriff Tony Spurlock in a press conference Wednesday. The deputy was treated at a hospital and later released for injuries to his face from shattered glass, Spurlock said.
The shooting happened after deputies from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office spotted a black Kia with missing license plates, the locks punched out, a shade visor, and tinted windows, said Spurlock. The car was parked at the Lincoln Station parking garage in Lone Tree, just south of Denver, the sheriff said.
After backup was called, Spurlock said, the officers knocked on both the passenger and driver windows. Though they couldn’t see into the car, they could see the car moving, he said. The two people inside then started shooting at deputies, according to Spurlock’s account.
Spurlock said the shooting lasted between seven to nine minutes and included an estimated 35 rounds between both the deputies and the suspects, who died at the scene.
He didn’t release the names of the deceased, but said both were under the age of 32.
The people had warrants out for their arrest, he said.
Police believe the car had been stolen from from Pueblo, a city two hours south of Denver.
The six deputies are on leave pending an investigation of the incident.
Steal a KIA? Worthy of a death sentence.