Editor’s note: This story possibly involves domestic violence. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please call the National DV Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or the Greeley Police Department’s Victim’s Services Unit at 970-350-9605.
A man police believe to be responsible for shooting a 35-year-old woman in a Greeley hospital parking lot Thursday morning was found dead in an Evans home later in the morning.
Just after 8 a.m., Greeley police responded to a shooting in the parking lot of the UCHealth Greeley Hospital, 6767 W. 29th St., according to a Greeley Police Department news release.
Police say a 35-year-old woman suffering from multiple gunshot wounds walked into the emergency room. As of 1 p.m. Thursday, she was being cared for and is expected to survive.
Police say the suspect — a 38-year-old man — fled the scene before officers arrived, but police quickly learned he went to a house in the 1900 block of McNitt Street in Evans.
Because of the address’ proximity to Chappelow Arts Magnet School and Dos Rios Elementary, Evans police were stationed at the two schools and both were on lockdown for roughly 90 minutes. They were released from lockdown and placed on secure status just after 10 a.m., according to Greeley-Evans School District 6 Communications Director Theresa Myers.
Myers said both schools will have extra support in place tomorrow for students affected by the lockdown
When police responded to the McNitt Street address, they saw a car on fire and made brief contact with the suspect — confirming he was alone — before he barricaded himself inside the home, according to the release. At that point, both the Greeley SWAT team and the Weld County Regional SWAT team responded to the scene.
While police were attempting to again make contact with the suspect, the vehicle fire spread to the house before fire crews were able to extinguish both. Evans Fire Chief Joe DeSalvo said the only place the fire spread to within the house was the attic.
Eventually, SWAT made entry into the house and found the suspect dead, police reported. The release did not indicate how he may have died.
Initial investigation shows the suspect and victim knew each other before the shooting, and police believe there is no reason to think it was a random act of violence, according to the release. Police did not directly indicate they believed it was a domestic violence incident but included resources for domestic violence victims.
The Weld County coroner will release the suspect’s identity and cause of death after notifying next of kin.
Police say no further information will be released today. They ask anyone with any information on the shooting to contact the department at 970-350-9605.
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