An El Paso County deputy has been released from the hospital after being shot during a shootout late Sunday morning.
Sheriff’s deputies responded to the 12000 block of Highway 94 early Sunday morning, after a man reportedly drove himself to Memorial Hospital with an apparent gunshot wound and said his friend had been shot in that area. According to an update from Sheriff Bill Elder, deputies found a dead male at the scene.
Sheriff Elder said it appeared the dead man was a victim of robbery, possibly involving marijuana.
While deputies were on the scene, they learned of several heavily armed men at another location off Peyton Highway and Loop Road. According to a release, a person also reported there was suspected drug related activity at the location.
SWAT was called to the scene, where an armed male suspect was encountered. Shots were fired, Deputy Jeremy Juhl was hit during the exchange and sustained non-life threatening injuries to the left side of his body.
Here’s a look at the crime scene along Highway 94 where deputies found one man shot dead and later found the alleged suspect down the road where another shootout happened, leaving one deputy injured. @KOAA. pic.twitter.com/ojGilT4a4l
— Jessica Barreto (@BarretoReports) July 22, 2018
The suspect at that scene was then shot and killed, according to Sheriff Elder.
The incidents are believed to be connected as both crime scenes remain under investigation. Sheriff Elder said both locations involved have been on the sheriff’s office radar for black market illegal marijuana grows.
The victim that drove himself to Memorial Hospital is currently in critical condition. Deputy Juhl suffered non-life threatening injuries from what is believed to be schrapnel or a shot gun pellet, he has since been released from the hospital.
Sheriff Elder said there is no threat to the public at this time, as they believe the suspect involved was the suspect killed at the scene. The Colorado Springs Police Department’s Deadly Force Investigation Team is the lead int he investigation.
This is a very active and ongoing investigation, we will keep you updated as more information comes in. Anyone with information or is a witness to this investigation is asked to call CSPD at (719) 444-7000.
