By Sarah Roebuck
Police1
DENVER — Following an earlier incident of an officer being shot in his patrol vehicle, a second police officer was wounded in Denver on the same day.
Police said officers were alerted by ShotSpotter about shots fired in the area of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Forest Street Wednesday evening. Officers were dispatched to that initial call and arrived in the area two minutes later.
A community member gave officers information and a description of the suspect. Shortly after, officers located the suspect.
The suspect attempted to flee on a scooter and continued the pursuit on foot. Police followed the suspect in their patrol vehicles.
Police said a confrontation between the officer and the suspect led to an exchange of gunfire.
The officer was struck in the chest, but his ballistic armor absorbed the round, police said. The officer’s injuries appear “not life-threatening,” police said. The suspect was taken to the hospital in critical condition.
“I’d like to take a moment to express the bravery and heroism of our Denver police officers who show up every single day, 365 days a year, seven days a week. They show up every day, holidays, weekends, despite the extreme threats to their safety that we have seen in full action, unfortunately, today,” Div. Chief Rick Kyle said in a news conference.
[RELATED: Colo. officer shot multiple times while sitting in patrol vehicle]
Earlier that same day, around 4 a.m., a veteran Denver police officer was shot multiple times while he was in his patrol vehicle outside of a hotel, police said.
In that shooting, the officer was taken to an emergency room for treatment of his wounds. Police said at least three bullets struck the officer.
He was released from the hospital later in the day and is resting at home, police said.
The suspect was also taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.