FORT COLLINS, Colo. — A man was shot early Monday morning by a deputy from the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office after he allegedly stole a patrol cruiser and led deputies on a dangerous chase in north Fort Collins. The suspect was hospitalized with serious injuries following the incident, according to the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office.
At approximately 2:45 a.m., a deputy initiated a traffic stop near the intersection of Prospect Road and Riverside Avenue. The driver exited the vehicle as instructed, but the passenger then got into the driver’s seat and fled the scene. Deputies pursued the vehicle with lights and sirens activated as the suspect sped through several miles of north Fort Collins.
The suspect eventually lost control of the vehicle, crashing into a ditch at the intersection of Terry Lake Road and Highway 1. After the crash, the suspect exited the vehicle and approached deputies while reportedly wielding a knife. In an attempt to escape, the suspect then entered an unoccupied patrol cruiser and drove off.
A deputy fired at the suspect, striking him. Law enforcement quickly approached the stolen vehicle and extracted the suspect from the cruiser, providing medical assistance before transporting him to the hospital. His current condition has not been disclosed, but authorities described his injuries as serious.
As a result of the shooting, Highway 1 was closed between Gregory Road and Country Club Road, roughly 8 to 9 miles south of Wellington, for several hours while investigators worked to piece together the events leading up to the shooting.
The Larimer County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) is overseeing the investigation into the use of force. CIRT is an independent body tasked with reviewing officer-involved shootings and other critical incidents involving law enforcement.
At this time, the identity of the suspect has not been released, and the investigation into the events of that morning remains ongoing. Authorities are urging anyone with information related to the incident to come forward as they continue their inquiry.
