13-03-2025
Suspect dies after standoff with law enforcement in Elbert County
DENVER (KDVR) — A suspect is dead after he allegedly barricaded himself inside a trailer and ignored law enforcement officers' commands in Elbert County.
According to the Elbert County Sheriff's Office, at 6:20 p.m. on Wednesday, law enforcement was alerted to a call of domestic violence off of County Road 77, southeast of Denver near Fondis.
When deputies arrived on scene minutes later, the suspect was in a fifth-wheeler trailer. The sheriff's office said he was armed with a handgun and deputies attempted to talk him out of the trailer.
Coroner report: Columbine survivor's death 'best classified as homicide'
The Elbert County Sheriff's Office said the suspect refused to obey requests to put the gun down, so deputies struck him with less lethal rounds. The man retreated into the trailer.
When negotiators spoke to the suspect, he told them his back hurt from the less lethal rounds. The suspect continued to refuse negotiators' and deputies' commands to exit the trailer.
At that point, the Elbert County SWAT team was called. According to the sheriff's office, a decision was made to put some pepper rounds inside the trailer. The pepper balls were shot through the window of the door and successfully went inside the trailer.
However, once the pepper rounds went inside, the sheriff's office said the suspect allegedly fired at least two rounds toward deputies. Three deputies returned fire.
Deputies then attempted to make contact with the suspect for another hour with no results.
The sheriff's office said two drones were sent into the trailer through the window where operators could see the suspect lying motionless. The SWAT team entered the trailer where the suspect was pronounced dead.
FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox
It is currently unclear how the suspect died. The sheriff's office said they would not be identifying him at this time.
No deputies were injured.
The 23rd Judicial District's Critical Incident Response Team is investigating the case, and the deputies involved in the shooting have been placed on leave per administrative policy.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
