Thornton Shooting Update: Deputy Heath Gumm Dead, One Suspect Arrested, Two Absconding

A deputy of Adams County Sheriff’s Office was fatally shot Wednesday while responding to an assault in Thornton, Colorado.

The deputy officer was shot in several times in the chest by a suspect, sheriff's spokeswoman Amanda Overton said. She added the incident took place at 8700 block of Dawson Street around 7 p.m. UTC (2 p.m. EST). Two suspects involved in the assault were absconding, while one was taken into custody by the police.

Overton confirmed the Sheriff’s Office was responding to an assault in progress, and added the wounded police officer was declared dead when he was brought to Denver Health medical center, the Denver Post reported.

The suspects were described as light-skinned black males or dark-skinned Latino males who were wearing black-colored clothes.

Law enforcement agencies like SWAT team, Aurora police, and police dog units reached the scene to help track down the absconding suspects, the report stated. The police authorities also deployed lights in the area to find the suspects.

The Sheriff’s County tweeted an officer was “down” and advised the people to remain inside and stay away from doors and windows of their homes.

The Regis University campus situated in Thornton was in a lockdown for around half an hour.

However, the lockdown ended around 9:51 p.m. UTC (4:51 p.m. EST).

According to an employee of a Walmart near the scene of the crime, some of the customers left the store while some remained inside as the police searched for the suspects. The employee, who chose to remain anonymous, said the doors of the store were locked and alarms were turned on, KMGH, an ABC-affiliated television network, reported.

Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper said in a statement, “Tonight we watched as a community was on edge and a sheriff’s deputy was shot while responding to a call in Adams County.”

“We are deeply saddened to learn that the deputy has died from injuries sustained in the shooting. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Adams County Sheriff’s Office and the family and friends of the deputy killed,” Hickenlooper added.

According to a tweet by reporter Michael Konopasek of KDVR, a Fox-affiliated television station, the name of the deceased deputy is Heath Gumm.

Konopasek also tweeted there was a big police procession which took place when the deputy’s body was taken to the Adams County Coroner’s Office.

Other law enforcement agencies also tweeted condolences for deputy who was shot while performing his duty.