Windsor Police Chief John Michaels shot and killed a 68-year-old man who pointed a gun at him and who had shot one of Michaels’ officers multiple times just moments earlier, authorities said today.
Michaels rushed to the scene Saturday afternoon at about 2 p.m. when he heard the call “officer down,” according to a Weld County District Attorney’s office press release.
The man shot by Michaels was identified today as Edward Cavaliere. The officer Cavaliere shot, Cpl. Gerald Beers, was expected to be released from the hospital today.
Beers, who has been a Windsor police officer for three years, was hit multiple times in the torso and lower abdomen.
The incident began when police were called to Cavaliere’s home at Governor’s Farm Apartments on a report that he stole $25 worth of candy from a local grocery store.
Beers and another officer wanted to talk to Cavaliere about the alleged candy theft when he came to the door with a gun, exchanged words with the officers and fired at Beers, according to the press release.
When Chief Michaels arrived, he checked Beers’ vital signs and tried to talk to Cavaliere, who was still inside. Cavaliere again came to the door armed and pointed a gun at Michaels, according to the DA’s office.
Michaels fired his gun at Cavaliere “who fell back into the house,” the press release said.
The Larimer County SWAT Team was called to the home because the injuries to Cavaliere were unknown at the time, authorities said. He was pronounced dead at about 4:20 p.m.
Cavaliere was shot multiple times and died from his wounds, according to an autopsy.
Michaels is on “modified administrative duties,” pending an investigation of the shootings by the district attorney’s office, which should be done within 30 days.
Kieran Nicholson: 303-954-1822 or knicholson@denverpost.com.
