Arapahoe County sheriff’s deputies fatally shot a man who hit a deputy with a large metal pole during a confrontation in a Centennial backyard early Saturday, agency officials said.
Deputies responded to a 911 call from a resident in the 4700 block of East Caley Place at 6:09 a.m. after the resident said they saw a person “acting suspiciously” in a neighboring backyard.
Sheriff’s officials said deputies found a man carrying a large metal pole who came toward them and hit one deputy. The deputies tried to use less-lethal force, including a Taser, which did not work, and two deputies shot the man.
Deputies provided medical aid before paramedics arrived, but the man died at the scene. The Arapahoe County Coroner’s Office identified him as 48-year-old Lawrence Kevin Nicks and rules his death a homicide.
One deputy had minor injuries from the altercation.
“The investigation remains active as investigators continue to process the scene and collect evidence,” the sheriff’s office said in a news release Saturday afternoon.
Both deputies are on paid leave until the investigation is complete. The 18th Judicial District is investigating the shooting.
Update 1:35 p.m. July 14, 2026: This story was updated to include the name of the man killed by police.
