Thornton police shot a man Sunday night after they said he fired a gun at officers following an unsuccessful effort to negotiate with him to put down his weapon.
Police said the man was taken to the hospital with “serious injuries.” There was no further information as to his condition Monday morning.
Thornton police posted a news release on X saying officers were dispatched to a parking lot in the 9700 block of Washington Street shortly before 8 p.m. Sunday to reports of a man firing a gun into the air. When officers arrived, the man pointed his gun at them and retreated into his car, the release said.
As police tried to negotiate with the man as he sat inside his car pointing his gun at himself and at police, he shot and killed his dog, authorities said. Police negotiated with the man for 30 minutes in an attempt to get him to surrender, at which point he exited his vehicle and fired at officers.
Police returned fire, striking the man, according to the release. The investigation into the shooting will be turned over to the 17th Judicial District Critical Response Team and the officers who fired their guns have been placed on administrative leave.
