The Grand Junction Police Department is releasing the following preliminary information on behalf of the 21st Judicial District Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT).
All officer-involved shootings in Mesa County are investigated by the 21st Judicial District Critical Incident Response Team, which is comprised of representatives of the Grand Junction Police Department, Mesa County Sheriff’s Office, Fruita Police Department, Palisade Police Department, Colorado State Patrol, Colorado Department of Corrections, 21st Judicial District Attorney’s Office, and Colorado Bureau of Investigation. CIRT is activated when a law enforcement agency is involved in a critical incident to ensure an independent investigation. Because Mesa County Sheriff’s Office personnel were involved in this incident, the Grand Junction Police Department is leading this investigation on behalf of CIRT.
At approximately 10:49 a.m. on Sunday, March 7, 2021, the Grand Junction Regional Communications Center received a call regarding a suspicious vehicle. The reporting party stated the vehicle was observed speeding and swerving on the I-70 Business Loop and that it appeared there were people arguing in the vehicle.
A short time later, a vehicle matching the description of the suspicious vehicle was located in the 400 Block of Coronado Court. A witness stated that they observed a male pulling a female subject into a residence and that she appeared to be in distress.
After unsuccessful attempts to contact the occupants of the residence, deputies forced entry into the house where they located a juvenile male who was removed from the home by deputies.
Ultimately, an officer involved shooting occurred, with one adult male suspect shot and transported to the hospital where he is currently being treated for serious injuries.
An adult female was also located in the home and is receiving treatment for injuries that are believed to have occurred prior to deputies contacting her. The juvenile male sustained a minor cut on his hand.
While no one has been arrested or charged at this time, this continues to be an active, ongoing investigation, and appropriate charges may follow as the investigation unfolds. This is believed to be an isolated incident, and law enforcement is not looking for any outstanding suspects.
One deputy sustained minor injuries during the incident.
Law enforcement continues to process the scene of this incident for additional evidence. Residents in the area may see an increased presence of law enforcement personnel over the next several hours.
Members of the Critical Incident Response Team will conduct interviews of all witnesses and involved persons in this case over the coming days. Additional details will be released as appropriate, with sensitivity to the ongoing investigation.
The Mesa County Sheriff’s Office will be responsible for releasing the names of their involved personnel. Per the policy of the agency, deputies involved in officer involved shootings are placed on administrative leave.
Anyone with information or video of this incident is encouraged to call non-emergency dispatch at 970-242-6707.
We thank the community for their patience and trust to allow us to ensure a thorough and complete investigation into this incident.