(PUEBLO, Colo.) — The Pueblo Police Department (PPD) reported a fatal officer-involved shooting in which a suspect, armed with a knife, began to stab himself after being shot on Sunday morning, Sept. 14.
According to PPD, officers responded to a strong-arm robbery around 8 a.m. in the 1100 block of Bonforte Boulevard, near Highway 50.
Officers then found a man in a vehicle near 8th Street and Glendale Avenue who matched the description of the robbery suspect. A car chase led to the suspect’s vehicle crashing in the 700 block of West 8th Street, near West Street.
PPD reported that when officers confronted the suspect, he pulled out a knife and refused to drop it when officers repeatedly ordered him to do so. The suspect was shot and then began to stab himself. Officers tased him in an attempt to prevent him from causing further harm to himself and give them a chance to provide medical aid without risk of being injured.
Once the suspect was disarmed, several officers gave him first aid, and he was taken to the hospital by medical personnel. He later died of his injuries, according to PPD.
PPD stated that the 10th Judicial Critical Incident Response Team has been activated, and the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office will lead the investigation. The Fremont County Coroner is the acting coroner at this time and will identify the suspect and make the appropriate notifications.