Police officer killed and others wounded in Denver-area bus shootout

Four police officers were shot while responding to a report of a suspicious person near West Colfax and Wadsworth in metro Denver Thursday evening, according to Mainline Media News.

A 33-year-old Lakewood Police Department officer died after a man opened fire as officers boarded a Regional Transportation District bus to apprehend a suspect linked to an earlier hit-and-run crash, the outlet reported.

The suspect, identified by The Denver Post as a 34-year-old parolee with a history of violence against law enforcement, was killed by police gunfire during the exchange.

Three other officers and a bystander were also wounded; two officers were released from the hospital the following day, while a third remained hospitalized but was recovering, according to police spokesman John Romero.

Lakewood Police Chief Philip Smith described the fallen officer as a dedicated and professional teammate, highlighting his commitment and compassion throughout his service.

The incident began around 6:30 p.m. Thursday when police spotted a man matching the hit-and-run suspect's description, leading to the confrontation on the bus, Mainline Media News reported.