Man killed after shooting five policemen, one fatally, in Colorado 'ambush'

Latest: A man fired more than 100 rounds at sheriff's deputies in Colorado, killing one and injuring four others, before being fatally shot himself in what authorities called an ambush.

Update 23.56pm: A man fired more than 100 rounds at sheriff's deputies in Colorado, killing one and injuring four others, before being fatally shot himself in what authorities called an ambush.

Douglas County Sheriff Tony Spurlock said deputies came under fire almost immediately after entering a suburban Denver apartment and trying to talk with the suspect, who was holed up inside a bedroom.

He said: "I do know that all of them were shot very, very quickly. They all went down almost within seconds of each other, so it was more of an ambush-type of attack on our officers.

"He knew we were coming and we obviously let him know that we were there."

The wounded deputies tried to pull the fallen officer, identified as Zackari Parrish, out of the line of further gunfire but were unable to because of their own injuries and only managed to "crawl to safety," Mr Spurlock said.

The incident occurred around 5.15am local time at Copper Canyon Apartments, a landscaped apartment complex in Highland Ranch, 16 miles south of Denver.

The authorities had left the home about four hours earlier after addressing a noise complaint but returned in response to reports of a disturbance at the property.

**Copper Canyon OIS Update**- Deputies responded to a domestic disturbance resulting in shots fired. 5 deputies shot by suspect. 1 deputy confirmed deceased. 2 civilians also shot by suspect. Suspect shot & believed to be dead & no longer a threat. #CopperCanyonOIS

— DC Sheriff (@dcsheriff) December 31, 2017

There were two men inside the home when deputies arrived and someone let them inside, Mr Spurlock said.

The disturbance was initially reported to be domestic but turned out to be noise-related, he said.

"The suspect was just making a ton of noise and annoying everyone around him," Mr Spurlock said.

Resident Steven Silknitter, 50, told The Denver Post that he heard 15 to 20 shots.

"It was back and forth - unbelievable," said Mr Silknitter, who lived in the Denver suburb of Aurora during a 2012 cinema shooting that left 12 dead.

The suspect was well known to authorities in the Denver area but had no criminal record, said Mr Spurlock, who declined to name him until his identity was confirmed.

My deepest condolences to the victims of the terrible shooting in Douglas County @DCSheriff, and their families. We love our police and law enforcement - God Bless them all! #LESM

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 31, 2017

The sheriff did not release any details about the weapons and ammunition used except to say the suspect had a rifle.

He did not know if law enforcement had any prior knowledge of firearms being in the home but said the possibility always weighs on deputies' minds.

"We respond to every call anticipating that everyone has a gun. This is Colorado. Everybody has a gun," Mr Spurlock said.

Mr Parrish was 29 and a married father of two young children, and joined the department seven months ago after working as an officer for the nearby Castle Rock Police Department.

Mr Spurlock called him a "good kid" who was eager to work.

"His wife told me today that he loved this job more than he had loved any job he ever had," the sheriff said.

The three deputies and one police officer injured were listed as being in stable condition. They were deputies Michael Doyle, 28, Taylor Davis, 30, Jeffrey Pelle, 32; and Castle Rock police officer Tom O'Donnell, 41.

Two civilian also suffered injuries that were not life-threatening.

Mr Pelle is the son of Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle. The sheriff said his son underwent surgery from injuries suffered in the attack and was recovering.

President Donald Trump expressed sorrow, writing on Twitter: "My deepest condolences to the victims of the terrible shooting in Douglas County @dcsheriff, and their families. We love our police and law enforcement - God Bless them all!"

The killings occurred on the final day of a year that saw the deadliest mass shooting in modern US history in Las Vegas.

AP

Earlier: Five sheriff's deputies have been shot - one fatally - and two civilians were injured after police responded to a domestic disturbance at an apartment block near Denver, Colorado.

The suspect was gunned down by police and was believed to be dead, the Douglas County Sheriff's Office said.

A hospital where three people were taken for treatment said they had suffered non-critical injuries. Another nearby hospital said it received four patients but would not release their conditions.

A major road was shut down after the shootout in Highlands Ranch, and residents in the vicinity were asked to shelter in place, and avoid windows and exterior walls.

The office tweeted that at 5.13am local time deputies responded to the Copper Canyon Apartments for a domestic disturbance.

"During the Investigation, shots were fired and multiple deputies were injured ... Please avoid this area."

The shooting happened at a landscaped apartment complex 16 miles south of Denver.

Law enforcement agencies including the Parker Police Department, the Lone Tree Police Department, the Castle Rock Police Department and the Colorado State Patrol were lending assistance.

The authorities said an emergency shelter has been set up following the shooting.

The Douglas County Sheriff's Office said anyone who was "displaced from their homes" after police were called to the shooting scene could go to the East Ridge recreation centre for shelter.