LAKEWOOD, Colorado, November 6, 2026 — A Lakewood police officer was killed and three other officers were wounded after a gunman opened fire near an RTD bus on Thursday evening, November 5. The suspect was shot dead by police, while another person was injured during the incident near West Colfax Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard, west of Denver.
Officers responded around 6:30 p.m. to reports of a suspicious man attempting to board a public bus, according to Lakewood Police spokesperson John Romero. The suspect opened fire shortly after officers arrived. Police returned fire, killing him at the scene.
The three surviving officers were taken to hospitals for treatment. Their conditions had not been disclosed in the latest confirmed reports. Authorities have not released the names of the officers or the gunman.
Latest Update — November 6, 2026
Lakewood Police have confirmed that one officer was killed and three others were wounded in Thursday’s shooting. The gunman was also killed by police, and a civilian was injured. Investigators said the suspect may have been linked to an earlier hit-and-run. The incident involved an RTD Route 76 bus, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Lakewood Police are currently investigating an officer-involved shooting near the corner of W Colfax Ave and Wadsworth Blvd. The investigation is on-going, please avoid the area. Additional details will be released as they become available. https://t.co/9xni3aZNze
— Lakewood Police Dept. (@LakewoodPDCO) November 6, 2026
RTD Bus Involved as Witness Reports 13 Gunshots
Eyewitness Patrick Dickman, who was inside an Easy Pawn store near the intersection, told CBS Colorado that a vehicle rear-ended an RTD bus before the shooting.
Dickman described officers surrounding the rear of the bus and firing toward it. He said he heard approximately 13 gunshots and saw five ambulances leaving the area.
These details remain eyewitness observations rather than an officially established sequence of events.
Reports also indicated that passengers were transferred to another bus. Authorities had not confirmed whether any passengers were injured or whether the shooting began inside the vehicle.
Witnesses Describe Gunshots and Heavy Police Response
Residents and motorists near Colfax Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard described hearing gunfire, seeing dozens of police vehicles and encountering road closures as emergency crews responded. Several shared their experiences in a discussion on Reddit’s r/Denver community.
“I live a few blocks away, heard 3 sets of gunshots maybe like 10 seconds apart from each other right when I got home like an hour ago and then tons of sirens. And now a helicopter”— Reddit user crystals_have_powers
“I passed by right after it happened and the police presence was insane. There had to have been north of 50 cop cars flooding the area.”— Reddit user Minute_Pineapple_435
“Was on 6 WB and there was cop who had traffic stopped completely just after wads exit. Saw tons of police cars and multiple ambulance.”— Reddit user psychedelicdevilry
“Yeah, they have all the streets leading into the hospital blocked off”— Reddit user True-Hippo143
“My kid drove through the response. I’m glad he’s home now.”— Reddit user suejaymostly
Colfax Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard Closed
Lakewood Police announced the investigation shortly after 7 p.m. Thursday and urged motorists to avoid the intersection.
West Colfax Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard form a busy commercial and transportation corridor connecting Lakewood with the Denver metropolitan area.
Police activity was also reported near Denver Health, where Bannock Street and North Speer Boulevard were temporarily restricted.
Drivers and transit passengers should check current traffic and RTD service advisories before traveling through the area. The initial closure announcement does not establish whether restrictions remain in effect Friday.
What Led to the Lakewood Police Shooting?
Lakewood Police spokesperson John Romero said officers were dispatched around 6:30 p.m. Thursday after receiving a report about a suspicious person attempting to board an RTD bus near West Colfax Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard.
According to Romero, the man began shooting within seconds of officers arriving. Police returned fire, and the gunman was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators also believe the suspect may have been involved in a hit-and-run earlier Thursday, although that possible connection has not been confirmed.
Authorities have not disclosed the suspect’s identity, the type of firearm used or the circumstances surrounding the earlier traffic incident.
RTD Confirms Route 76 Bus Involvement
The Regional Transportation District confirmed that the shooting involved a contracted bus operating Route 76 in Lakewood.
RTD said its personnel responded immediately and were cooperating with Lakewood Police investigators. The transit agency also expressed concern for everyone affected by the violence.
Although RTD described the shooting as occurring aboard one of its buses, police have not established publicly whether all the gunfire took place inside the vehicle or in the surrounding area.
RTD reported no immediate impacts to its regular service following the incident.
Suspect Information and Police Investigation
Investigators have not publicly established who fired the first shots, whether a suspect was arrested, what caused the reported vehicle collision or whether additional civilians were injured.
Police may review witness statements, physical evidence, surveillance recordings and available body-camera footage to determine the sequence of events.
Residents can monitor announcements from the Lakewood Police Department. For emergencies, call 911; non-emergency dispatch is available at 303-980-7300.
The shooting comes amid other recent investigations involving emergency responders, including an unrelated Iowa post office shooting that left three people injured.
Further official statements are needed to confirm the officers’ conditions, determine what happened near the RTD bus and clarify whether anyone has been detained.
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