Adams County sheriff’s deputies shot and killed a man who aimed a shotgun at them outside the Rookies Saloon and Restaurant in Strasburg early Thanksgiving morning, authorities said.
No deputies were injured. The name of the dead suspect was not released pending notification of family members.
“At the end of the day, it was something the suspect initiated, and unfortunately he is not with us here today,” Arapahoe County Bureau Chief Louie Perea said. “We’re very fortunate that neither the Adams County deputies nor anyone else was hurt.”
The suspect had been at the bar earlier, and as the bar owner and patrons were leaving for the night, they saw him nearby holding a shotgun, Perea said. They re-entered the bar and called 911, he said.
“We’re not sure what his intentions were,” Perea said. “It doesn’t appear there was a physical altercation or argument. It’s possible it was a robbery.”
Deputies from Arapahoe and Adams counties were called to the bar at 1323 N. Monroe St. at 12:44 a.m., Perea said.
Two Adams County deputies arrived and saw a man armed with a shotgun. He took off running east of the bar. They chased him a short distance before he wheeled around and aimed the shotgun at the officers, Perea said.
Both deputies fired their handguns at the suspect, who was struck and fell to the ground. He did not fire his weapon.
“He threatened them with a shotgun, and they had to take action,” Perea said.
The man was pronounced dead at the scene.
The 18th Judicial District Critical Response Team, which includes crime lab analysts and investigators, is looking into the circumstances of the shooting.
“Their mission is to conduct a thorough and complete investigation,” Perea said.
The names of the two Adams County deputies were not released.
