Colorado police officer and 'Samaritan' are shot dead by a gunman in a Denver suburb - with shooter then killed by police
A veteran cop and a 'Samaritan' were shot dead by a gunman in a suburb of Denver before that shooter was killed by police.
Officer Gordon Beesley has been named as the policeman who was shot in Arvada, Colorado, on Monday afternoon. Beesley - a 19 year veteran of Arvada Police Department - was killed while responding to reports of a shooting.
He worked as a school resource officer at the nearby Oberon Middle School, but had been on general patrol during the summer vacation.
An Arvada Police spokesman said: 'Our community has seen immense tragedy today. Our hearts to out to all of those who were affected by today's incident.'
The second victim was described as a male 'Samaritan' by KDVR, but has not been identified. It is unclear if that man was a 'Good Samaritan' who tried to step in to avert tragedy, or a worker from Denver's Samaritan House homeless shelter.
Arvada Police have also declined to name the gunman.
They have yet to disclose a motive, but say the shooting was an isolated incident, and that there is no threat to the community. An investigation is ongoing.
Gunfire was heard at 1:38pm on Monday, and officers were on the scene within minutes from a police station very close by. The situation was brought under control shortly after.
Deputy Arvada Police Chief Ed Brady described the fatally wounded officer as a veteran of the city's police department.
He said the second person shot and killed was believed to be a Samaritan.
Officer Gordon Beesley has been named as the cop killed in a shooting in Arvada, Colorado, on Monday afternoon. He worked as a school resource officer at a local middle school
Police in Arvada, Colorado, were called to reports of gunfire at around 1:30pm on Monday
One man, identified by 9News only as John, said that he saw a man he believes to be the gunman crouched down and firing a weapon that looked larger than a handgun.
Police arrived on the scene and returned fire, John said, and then an ambulance arrived and a gurney was taken out, and the gunman taken to hospital.
Arvada police said in a statement: 'There has been a public safety incident in Olde Town Arvada. The situation is secure.
'Details are not yet available. Information will be posted as it becomes available.'
A witness who was at Denver Beer Company told 9News that he heard shots and then saw someone outside holding a gun and shooting.
Megan Scharf who lives nearby told FOX31 News she heard three gunshots and saw multiple police vehicles and ambulances, as well as one vehicle that may have been the coroner.
Scharf said this time of day is usually quiet in the area, although it is a popular shopping and restaurant district during other times of the day.
No motive or further detail for the shooting has been given.
A huge number of officers arrived on the scene in Old Town Arvada when the shooting was reported
The Arvada police officer killed on Monday was described as a veteran of the force
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