LAKEWOOD, Colo – A man was shot by a Lakewood police agent Friday afternoon after police were called to investigate an alleged shoplifting incident.
According to the Lakewood Police Department, agents responded to a shoplifting call at a Home Depot located in the 7200 block of W. Colfax Avenue around 2:35 p.m. A loss prevention officer at the Home Depot said the man made threats against store staff and took off from the store when confronted.
While searching the area near Colfax Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard, agents spotted a man who matched the suspect's description heading into the EZ Pawn parking lot at 7620 W. Colfax Ave. When agents stopped the man, he "began making threats to them" and used one of the stolen items as a weapon, according to police.
The man reportedly approached agents with the "weapon," and an agent fired their service weapon. Police said the man was struck once.
The man was taken to the hospital. His condition is not known at this time but he was "alive at last check," police said.
No agents were injured in the incident.
Lakewood PD said it is not releasing the man's name at this time. The agent who fired their service weapon was placed on administrative leave, per department protocol.
The First Judicial District Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) is investigating the shooting.
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