A Wheat Ridge SWAT team member shot and killed a carjacking and robbery suspect Wednesday night after the man pulled out a gun and pointed it at the officer, according to police.
Shawne Nelson, 34, of Fort Myers, Fla., was killed in a confrontation near the Motel 6 where he had been staying. He had been connected to a crime spree eight days earlier, said Lisa Stigall, Wheat Ridge police spokeswoman.
Denver police also on Wednesday arrested Willie Perez, 31, who is a suspected accomplice in one of the robberies last week. Stigall said Nelson stole a car at gunpoint following one of the two robberies.
A Wheat Ridge detective was investigating Nelson for several other burglaries and crimes in the area just before the arrest, Stigall said.
Police went to the motel Wednesday at about 6 p.m. during their search for the suspect. When they confirmed that Nelson had a room in the motel, SWAT team members were called to the scene, Stigall said.
The officers set up a perimeter, and then two officers followed him when he walked away from the motel, she said.
The officers confronted him at about 7:45 p.m. near the Comfort Inn Motel, at 10200 W. Interstate 70 Frontage Road S.
Nelson has a criminal history for assaults and burglary. In 1993 he was charged with attempted murder and eventually was sentenced to 14 years in prison on a reduced charge of first-degree assault, according to Colorado Bureau of Investigation records.
Stigall did not release the name of the SWAT team officer who shot Nelson. The officer was placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation.
Staff writer Kirk Mitchell can be reached at 303-820-1206 or kmitchell@denverpost.com.
