4 Deputies Wounded, 1 Killed In Highlands Ranch: Officials

HIGHLANDS RANCH, CO — A gunman opened fire Sunday on deputies responding to a domestic disturbance call in Highlands Ranch, wounding four officers and killing another, authorities said. Two civilians were also wounded before the gunman was shot and presumed dead.

The slain deputy was identified as Zack Parrish, 29. Hours after the shooting, he was taken from Littleton Adventist Hospital in a black hearse accompanied by dozens of law enforcement vehicles and motorcycles. Firefighters stood on their trucks as the procession drove south on Broadway, The Denver Post reported, and some residents stood on street corners with American flags.

The shooting occurred when deputies were responding to the Copper Canyon Apartments on the 3400 block of CountyLine Road around 5:15 a.m., the Douglas County Sheriff's Office said. Roads in the area were closed and a bomb squad and SWAT officers were on the scene as the wounded were loaded into ambulances.

**Copper Canyon OIS Update**- Deputies responded to a domestic disturbance resulting in shots fired. 5 deputies shot by suspect. 1 deputy confirmed deceased. 2 civilians also shot by suspect. Suspect shot & believed to be dead & no longer a threat. #CopperCanyonOIS
— DC Sheriff (@dcsheriff) December 31, 2017

Residents in the area also received a "Code Red" alert warning them to "shelter in place, avoid windows and stay away from exterior walls."

Sheriff Tony Spurlock at a news conference on Sunday afternoon identified the four injured officers as: Deputies Mike Doyle, 28; Taylor Davis, 30, Jeffrey Pelle, 32, and Tom O’Donnell, 41, who works for the Castle Rock Police Department.

Spurlock said officers were called to the apartment complex around 1:30 a.m. for a noise complaint but left when they didn't hear anything. They were called to the complex again around 5:15 a.m. for a report of a domestic disturbance and this time were let into the unit by one of two men inside. The officers quickly figured out that something unfortunate was happening in the apartment, Spurlock said.

The officers talked with suspect and others for some time before gunfire erupted in a bedroom of the apartment in an “ambush-like attack," hitting five deputies in and around their vests. All fell within seconds of each other and the suspect, armed with a rifle, barricaded himself in the bedroom.

Officers tried to pull one deputy out but were unable to due to their injuries. They managed to crawl out of the room to safety and more units were called in to assist. Spurlock said the suspect continued to shoot at other officers, ultimately firing “well over 100 rounds."

Parrish was pulled out just before 7:30 a.m. after being hit multiple times. In the locations where he was hit he wasn’t able to survive, Spurlock said.

"It was very difficult for me to see Zack for the last time," he said.

.@SheriffSpurlock names29-year-old Zackari Parrish, deputy and former CRPD officer killed in #CopperCanyonOIS. Our hearts our heavy today as we mourn the loss of one of our brothers. Thank you all for your support. https://t.co/kJKCYaZ7Uq pic.twitter.com/RmdB9CI5Tg
— DC Sheriff (@dcsheriff) December 31, 2017

The deputies were wearing body cameras at the time of the shooting.

The suspect's roommate hasn't been charged and is cooperating with investigators.

The names of the officers involved in the shooting of the suspect weren't immediately released.

Steven Silknitter, a resident of the apartment complex, told the Denver Post that he was working elsewhere when he heard about the shooting. He called home waking up his fiance.

She woke to hear “a barrage” of gunfire in the dark, said Silknitter.

“She was pretty scared. She kept saying how loud it was.”

Highway C-470 from South Quebec Street to University Boulevard and County Line Road from Colorado Boulevard to University Boulevard were closed Sunday afternoon.

“My heart breaks for all of those affected by the terrible tragedy in Douglas County,” Republican U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner of Weld said in a statement. “Our hearts go out to the family of the Deputy who was fatally wounded. Our law enforcement officers work tirelessly every day to keep our communities safe and today all of Colorado stands with our law enforcement community.”

Parker Police Department, Lone Tree Police, Castle Rock Police and Colorado State Patrol are involved in the incident along with the sheriff's office. The FBI's office in Denver said on Twitter that it has offered its "full support" to the Douglas County sheriff.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with our law enforcement partners and all those impacted by today’s senseless act of violence," the agency said in a tweet.

Authorities said the suspect had no criminal history, but had been in contact with law enforcement agents throughout the metro area.

A Code Red was sent out regarding this incident. Any citizens in the affected area are instructed to shelter in place, avoid windows and stay away from exterior walls. pic.twitter.com/RgutCEqgJA
— DC Sheriff (@dcsheriff) December 31, 2017

We've been asked how the community can donate to our deputies involved in today's shooting. If you'd like to donate you can do so through our fallen officer fund at: https://t.co/eihpRKop8C Thank you all so much for your support! #CopperCanyonOIS
— DC Sheriff (@dcsheriff) December 31, 2017Twitter video from Larry Ryckman, The Denver Post.

Twitter video from Larry Ryckman, The Denver Post.

Image via Shutterstock