Update December 17, 2021
The four Colorado Springs Police Department officers involved in the shooting on December 10, 2021, were Officer Scott Ferguson, Officer Ray Shepard, Officer Ryan Paine and Officer Thorin Fash. The Officers’ current assignments and years of service are as follow:
- Officer Ferguson has been employed as a sworn police officer with the Colorado Springs Police Department since October 2012 and is currently assigned to the Specialized Enforcement Division as a K9 officer.
- Officer Shepard has been employed as a sworn police officer with the Colorado Springs Police Department since January 2016 and is currently assigned as a Falcon Division DUI Officer.
- Officer Paine has been employed as a sworn police officer with the Colorado Springs Police Department since March 2018 and is currently assigned as a Sand Creek Division DUI Officer.
- Officer Fash has been employed as a sworn police officer with the Colorado Springs Police Department since November 2018 and is currently assigned to Sand Creek Patrol, Shift II.
The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office is the lead investigative agency for this officer involved shooting. This is an ongoing investigation, and all investigative updates will only be provided by the Sheriff's Office Public Information Office
The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office is the lead investigative agency for this officer involved shooting. This is an ongoing investigation, and all investigative updates will only be provided by the Sheriff's Office Public Information Office.
---Origional release from El Paso County Sheriff's Office---
On December 10, 2021, at approximately 2:10 a.m., Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) officers were dispatched to a suspicious vehicle parked behind a business in the 3600 block of Austin Bluffs Parkway.
CSPD officers contacted an adult male in a vehicle and gave him commands to exit the vehicle. The suspect fired a gun at officers, and at least one CSPD officer returned fire. The suspect then barricaded himself in the vehicle.
Officers requested the Tactical Enforcement Unit and negotiators to respond. Prior to their arrival,
the suspect called CSPD communications center and said he was armed with a gun and was going to kill an officer.
The suspect then again fired at officers and at least one CSPD officer returned fire. After additional officers arrived on scene and it was safe to approach the vehicle, the suspect was located deceased.
No other community members, or officers were injured in this incident. Officers involved in this incident have been placed on administrative leave per CSPD’s policy.
In accordance with Colorado Revised Statute 16-2.5-301, the El Paso County Sheriff's Office is the lead investigative agency for this officer-involved shooting. This is an ongoing investigation and information will be released as appropriate. All updates, with the exception of naming the involved officers, will come from the El Paso County Sheriff's Office Public Information Office.