ELBERT COUNTY, Colo. — A suspect was shot and killed after he opened fire on law enforcement — striking one Elbert County deputy's vest — who were trying to serve a search warrant in Elizabeth on Tuesday morning, authorities said.
A shelter-in-place order was issued for the area shortly after 9 a.m. and was lifted around 11:30 a.m.
The deputy had minor injuries and was treated at the scene. Elizabeth Police Department Chief Jeffery R. Engel said the suspect is dead.
Watch the full press conference with Police Chief Engel, as well as the Elbert County sheriff, in the video below.
This incident began around 9 a.m., when the Elbert County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team served a search warrant on behalf of the Elizabeth Police Department at an apartment building at 175 E. Spruce Street. Engel said police believed the suspect had evidence in the apartment.
"Upon serving the search warrant, there was an exchange of gunfire between deputies and the occupant of the residence," Engel said.
Elbert County Sheriff Tim Norton said as law enforcement surrounded the building and approached the door of the unit, a person opened the door and "shots were fired."
One deputy was struck in the soft part of his ballistic vest, he said. He had minor injuries and was evaluated by medical personnel at the scene.
In a press release Tuesday afternoon, Elizabeth police said the suspect fired several rounds first, and deputies then returned fire and retreated to a safe area.
The police department reached out to the Douglas County Regional SWAT team to assist, Norton and Engel said.
Meanwhile, a few surrounding apartment units were evacuated and the shelter-in-place order was issued for a quarter-mile radius. Deputies tried to put tear gas in the unit with the suspect inside.
Sheriff Norton said once additional resources arrived, they were able to look inside and found one male dead on the floor. He was the only person in the unit. He has not been identified.
The deputy who had the minor injuries is a very seasoned member of the team, "very strong" and "level-headed," the sheriff said. After his ballistic vest was hit, he stayed on the scene until additional resources arrived, then he was evaluated, Sheriff Norton said.
Elizabeth Fire Rescue said the public should expect police activity on S. Elbert Street, which is now closed between Highway 86 and East Maple, as the investigation continues.
Elizabeth School District is on fall break this week, so no local schools are impacted by the shooting.
Elizabeth is a small town along Highway 86 about 13 miles east of Castle Rock.
The 18th Judicial District Critical Incident Response Team was activated and will investigate the shooting. The Elbert County Coroner's Office will identify the deceased suspect.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
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