The Boulder County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday identified the deputy who shot and killed a kidnapping suspect near a trailhead Wednesday afternoon.
Officials said Jeffrey Brunkow is a 14½-year veteran of the department, who typically works in the mountains.
Brunkow’s actions ended that began Wednesday morning in Westminster and ended at the Doudy Draw Trailhead in Boulder County. According to officials, two men left a home in the 10100 block of Benton Street with a third man, ostensibly as part of the transfer of a vehicle.
Almost two hours later, the department responded to reports of the suspect’s car being parked near the trailhead.
When deputies “engaged” the people in the car, officials said, Brunkow observed a man in the back seat of the car with a gun pointed at the head of one person in the front seat.
Brunkow fired one shot from a rifle, killing the man in the back seat.
No one else was hurt.
Officials said afterward that the three men were related.
As of Thursday afternoon, they have not elaborated on that relationship or released other details in the case.
The Boulder County Investigation Team is investigating.
Brunkow received certificates of commendation in 2005 and 2006 for his work.
In 2012, he was part of a group that received an award, in part, for its investigation into locating people who had active warrants out for their arrest ranging from misdemeanor to serious felony cases.
