A 27-year-old police officer was killed whereas responding to a name for service Sunday morning exterior of Denver, in keeping with his division.
Arvada Police Officer Dillon Michael Vakoff was responding to a big household disturbance with one other officer early Sunday morning when he was killed, police mentioned.
The officers arrived to a chaotic scene with a number of individuals on the street, Arvada Police Chief Hyperlink Strate mentioned in a information convention Sunday. Police acquired a name in regards to the disturbance at about 1:45 a.m., in keeping with NBC affiliate KUSA of Denver.
Officers tried to separate people who have been belligerent when a suspect fired and shot a feminine sufferer, Strate mentioned. The officers and suspect then exchanged gunfire and the suspect struck Vakoff, killing him. The second officer tried to offer help to Vakoff, however he pronounced lifeless on the hospital.
“Dillon is an instance of every little thing that’s good a couple of police officer,” Strate mentioned on the information convention, including that he’d been with the division since 2019. Earlier than becoming a member of the division, Vakoff was a Workers Sergeant in U.S. Air Drive for six years.
The suspect, who was additionally shot, is anticipated to outlive and is in police custody. There is no such thing as a ongoing menace to the neighborhood, police mentioned in a tweet.
The feminine sufferer was transported to a hospital and can be anticipated to outlive. It is unclear what her involvement within the incident is at the moment, Strate mentioned.
A legal investigation into the dying of Vakoff is ongoing, Strate added.
Erick Mendoza contributed.
