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Suspect in Mesa County deputy shooting is teen

Posted at 1:53 PM, Feb 10, 2016
and last updated 2016-02-10 17:22:52-05

The Mesa County Sheriff's Office says the suspect accused of shooting a deputy is 17-year-old Austin Patrick Holzer.

Holzer apparently has a criminal record because he was arrested on suspicion of possession of a weapon by a previous offender and attempted second-degree murder.

Deputy Derek Geer responded to reports of a man carrying a gun and wearing a bandana over his face in the 500 block of Fruitvale Court around 11:06 a.m. Monday.

Geer contacted a man matching the suspect's description and when the suspect attempted to run, Geer deployed his Taser, according the sheriff's office.

That is when the suspect opened fire on the deputy and took off on foot, investigators said.

The 17-year-old suspect, Holzer, was taken into custody about an hour later, officials said.

Geer is on life support while his organs are being donated. His family and the sheriff's office said he will be taken off life support today or tomorrow.

Geer is a Navy veteran and has been employed with the Mesa County Sheriff's Office since October 2001.  He is a husband and father of two children, ages 13 and 11.

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