A police officer who was one of three people killed in a shooting at a suburban Denver shopping district was a school resource officer known for developing relationships with students, city officials said.
By COLLEEN SLEVIN DENVER (AP) — A police officer who was one of three people killed in a shooting at a suburban Denver shopping district was ambushed by a suspect who had previously expressed hatred toward police, authorities said Tuesday. Arvada Police Officer Gordon Beesley “was targeted because he was wearing an Arvada police uniform,” police Chief Link Strate said at a news conference. “Officer Beesley was ambushed by a person who had expressed hatred of police officers,” Strate said. He called it “a deliberate act of violence” and an” isolated incident.” The suspect was one of those killed, authorities said. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below. DENVER (AP) — A police officer who was one of three people killed in a shooting at a suburban Denver shopping district was a school resource officer with a reputation for taking a compassionate approach with students. Police have not explained what started Monday’s shootout that also killed a suspect and a man they described as a “Samaritan” near a library in historic downtown Arvada that is home to popular shops, restaurants, breweries and other businesses about 7 miles (10 kilometers) northwest of downtown Denver. Authorities were expected to disclose more information about the shooting sometime Tuesday. They have not made public the identities of the other two people who died. With school out for the summer, officer Gordon Beesley was working on patrol when police said he was hit by gunfire shortly after a report of a suspicious incident that authorities have not described.
