ARVADA, Colo. — An Arvada father of four said he did what he was told when a carjacker ordered him to get on the ground and put his hands behind his head on Saturday evening. And it likely saved his life.
Two or three carjackers pulled up to his house as he, his wife and their four kids returned home from a company Christmas party, he said.
Matt, who asked that we just use his first name, said after getting their kids into the house, he went back outside to unload a few items from their pickup.
"That's when a car pulled up," he said. "Someone got out and said, 'Excuse me,' and I turned around and saw he had a gun in his hand."
Matt said his mind started racing as one of the thieves began rifling through his pockets, grabbing his wallet and keys. He said he didn't resist.
"Your truck is not worth leaving your children fatherless or your wife without a husband," he said.
Police spotted the stolen pickup at W. 58th Avenue and Kipling Street and began a pursuit.
Security video obtained by Denver7 from a YouTube account titled Whigfarmer showed Matt's stolen truck racing down W. 64th Avenue near Oak Street, with sparks flying out from the fender.
The driver crashed at Ralston Road and Allendale Drive.
Police apprehended a female passenger, but said the male driver got away.
He's described as a white male, 5 feet, 5 inches tall, 150 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing black clothing.
"During the foot pursuit that was initiated after that car accident, the male party did fire shots at officers," Arvada Police Det. Julie Glynn said. "I don't know how many rounds were fired at this time. I can tell you that officers did not return fire and no officers are injured."
Matt said it was sobering to learn that the man who stole his truck fired at police.
When asked if he thinks the carjacker would have shot him had he resisted, he said, "At the time, I wasn't sure, because I honestly thought it might be a BB gun, but after talking to the cops and I heard shots fired over the radios, then it kind of sunk in."
Although the carjackers wrecked his truck, Matt said he still has reasons to celebrate Christmas.
"I still have my family, and my kids still have their father," he said.
A GoFundMe account has been set up to provide some help to the family during the holidays.