A West Metro SWAT team member shot a man Thursday morning after he fired a replica pistol at officers from an apartment balcony; the suspect died at a hospital, Lakewood police said.
The incident started about 2:45 a.m., when officers responded to a report of menacing at the Carmel Waterfront apartments, 10555 W. Jewell Ave., according to a news release. A man there told police that another man had thrown rocks at his front door. The victim went outside his apartment and saw that the man throwing rocks had a gun. The victim went back inside and called police.
The suspect barricaded himself inside his apartment, the release said. Officers made contact with the man, but he was armed when he opened his door. Officers backed off, and a SWAT team and a negotiator were called in.
About 5:55 a.m. the suspect walked out onto his balcony and opened fire on officers with a handgun, police said. Investigators later determined the gun was an airsoft pistol. After firing the pistol, the suspect went inside and returned to the balcony with what appeared to be a shotgun. At that point, a SWAT member fired one round at the man, hitting him.
He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The man’s name was not released Thursday. Police described him as 35 years old.
