Adams County authorities have identified the 18-year-old man by police officers assigned to an interagency, Denver-area auto-theft task force.
The county coroner’s office says Alexander Meltz was pronounced dead at the scene of the shootout at Cotton Creek Park on the 11100 block of Stuart Street, just north of the Legacy Ridge Golf Course. Meltz was from Westminster.
Investigators say Meltz, who was connected to a stolen vehicle, was shot after he brandished and pointed a weapon at officers who confronted him. Authorities have declined to say what kind of weapon he was holding.
There were four officers involved in the shooting, including two Colorado State Patrol troopers, an officer from Wheat Ridge and an officer from Lakewood. All four fired at Meltz.
Authorities say there were several witnesses and that the 17th Judicial District Critical Incident Team will be investigating the case.
Trooper Josh Lewis, a Colorado State Patrol spokesman, said the officers involved in the shooting were tracking a stolen vehicle at the time of the confrontation. Lewis said he didn’t know if the officers were trying to arrest Meltz when the shooting happened.
Westminster police say Meltz was in the stolen vehicle.
Further details on the case have not been released.
