An off-duty Denver police officer wrestled with one of two men robbing a drugstore today. The robber wrestled her gun away and, in the struggle, the officer fired a shot.
No one was injured and the robbers escaped in separate vehicles, one of which was carjacked, said Denver police spokesman Lt. Matt Murray.
The female officer, not in uniform, was at the store at about 3 p.m. Thursday to pick up a prescription when the two men jumped the Walgreen’s pharmacy counter at Green Valley Ranch Boulevard and Tower Road.
She then jumped the counter and pulled her gun on the robbers. One of the men attacked her. She fired the shot in the struggle but did not hit anyone.
Her attacker then fled the store and carjacked a vehicle outside a Grease Monkey across the street. No description of that vehicle was available.
The second robber fled in a vehicle that police believe was waiting for them in the Walgreen’s parking lot, Murray said. Police believe it is a 2005 black Chevy Suburban with temporary plates.
One suspect is described as a white male with long, white hair in his 50s.
The other suspect is described as a male with orange-colored hair in his 20s.
Murray said that the police do have a person of interest, but are not be releasing further details or information until Friday.
The officer was not named by Denver police.
“We’re very proud of the action of our officer tonight and we want to remind people that police officers are always on duty, and that she saved lives and prevented injuries tonight,” Murray said.
Denver Post staff writers Joey Bunch and Kristen Leigh Painter contributed to this report
