COLORADO SPRINGS — A suspect who was shot by Colorado Springs officers Sunday night when they said he pointed a rifle at them and died due to his injuries has been identified as a Fort Carson soldier, according to Fort Carson.
The El Paso County Coroner's Office identified the man as 28-year-old Virgill Thorpe.
"The Iron Brigade is deeply saddened by the loss of Sgt. Virgill Thorpe. Sgt. Thorpe was a tremendous leader and teammate, and his tragic passing is felt throughout the formation. We will continue to focus on supporting his family through this difficult time," Col. Grant S. Fawcett, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division said in a statement.
The Colorado Springs Police Department said they received a call just before 10 p.m. from a woman that Thorpe was carrying a rifle. When officers arrived to the home in the 3200 block of Oak Creek Drive East, they said they spoke to him outside before he ran inside the house to grab the rifle and then pointed it at officers.
The department said four officers shot their weapons and that Thorpe was hit at least one time. He was in serious condition when he was taken to the hospital.
Thorpe has been in the army since 2012 and arrived at Fort Carson in 2016.
CSPD said the four officers are now on paid administrative leave, per department policy, and that they were not injured.
The EPCSO will lead the on-going investigation and turn the evidence over to the 4th Judicial District Attorney's Office for review.
