Arvada Police Shootout: Suspect Died of Self-Inflicted Gunshot

ARVADA, CO -- A man who displayed a weapon at Arvada police officers during a foot chase Sunday night died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the Jefferson County Coroner concluded Tuesday. Erick Michael Deleon, 25, was declared dead at the scene in the 5000 block of Kipling.

Acting on a "suspicious person" report, Arvada Police contacted Deleon in his car in a parking lot, according to a press release by Arvada police. Police ran his ID and found he was wanted on a warrant from Denver County for felony domestic violence and stalking. Deleon was considered "armed and dangerous" according to the warrant.

A police statement said Deleon fled in his car before police could arrest him. He crashed the vehicle on the south side of a Target parking lot, then fled on foot. Deleon was located walking southbound west of Kipling near the I-70 frontage road. He was carrying a handgun when confronted by police, a police statement said.

According to the police account:

Deleon raised the weapon in the direction of Arvada Officers. An Officer fired their weapon striking the suspect. Deleon then turned his weapon on himself and shot himself in the head. Medical personal tended to Deleon, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Jefferson County Critical Incident Response Team (C.I.R.T), comprised of Jefferson County law enforcement agencies and members of the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office, is investigating the incident, Arvada police said in a statement.

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