The man accused of shooting a Denver police officer after an attempted burglary, carjacking and chase Monday has at least 20 aliases and has a criminal record dating back to 2001, Denver7 has learned.
The man, Gerardino Gonzalez, was shot and killed by Denver police officers. He was identified by the coroner on Tuesday.
Gonzalez had a seven-page criminal record. His criminal history from the Colorado Bureau of Investigations shows arrests for assault, aggravated robbery, resisting arrest, criminal impersonation, theft and forgery.
Denver police were called to a burglary in progress at West 37th Avenue and Grove Street around 1:25 p.m., Denver police chief Robert White said.
Several officers stopped two suspects nearby. One suspect was taken into custody immediately, but the other suspect ran off and was chased by two officers. There was a shootout and officer Rachel Eid was shot in the leg, White said.
Eid was treated at the hospital Monday and released Monday night.
The fleeing suspect (Gonzalez) kept running and carjacked a vehicle near 32nd and Lowell, police said.
Police pursued the stolen vehicle and approximately three blocks later, at 35th and Lowell, the suspect lost the control of the vehicle, and was stopped, Denver police spokesman Doug Schepman said.
"He was confronted by several police officers, at which time, there was a second exchange of gunfire," White said.
Two officers opened fire on the suspect and he was shot and killed.
Neighbors concerned about spike in crime
According to DPD's crime map, in the last two weeks there have been more than a dozen burglaries and nine auto thefts in the West Highlands neighborhood from Lowell Boulevard to Zuni Street between W. 38th Avenue and W. 29th Avenue.
Add that to an officer being shot, and people who live and work there are concerned.
"It's alarming to a lot of people - it's not ideal," said homeowner Nate Brelig. "There's definitely been an uptick in burglaries in the neighborhood."
John Cross runs Pizza Alley, a restaurant across the street from where the shots were fired. He grew up in the neighborhood and said things have changed recently.
"With the influx of a lot of young professionals moving into the neighborhood which brings money and then crime goes up," said Cross. "A lot of these are happening during the day when people aren't home."
"If you don't have a security system or a dog it's probably not a bad idea to get one," said Brelig.
Denver Police said they are investigating whether the two men involved in Monday's burglary, chase and shooting are connected to the other string of burglaries in the neighborhood.
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