JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colo. — One man was fatally shot by authorities after they found a suspicious car in Clear Creek Canyon Sunday evening.
Around 8:45 p.m. Sunday, two deputies with Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to mile marker 267 on Highway 6 in Clear Creek Canyon to assist Colorado State Patrol with a suspicious vehicle, according to the sheriff's office.
A state trooper had noticed the car around 8:20 p.m. It was parked on the south side of the roadway and after verifying the license plates, he learned the vehicle was stolen and possibly associated with a recent attempted homicide in Lafayette. The trooper spotted an adult male in the driver’s seat and juvenile female passenger. They appeared to be sleeping, according to Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.
Highway 6 was closed to traffic while deputies, CSP and a Golden police officer initiated a felony stop on the vehicle. Before they were able to get in contact with the man or girl in the car, the car was put in gear and started moving.
“The vehicle began to drive forward and something happened that we’re investigating at this point in time — there were shots fired by the Colorado State Patrol and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office,” said Major Steve Garcia with CSP.
According to the sheriff’s office, the authorities shot into the car in an attempt “to stop the threat.”
After the gunfire, the vehicle drove down the embankment and came to a rest at the creek. The male driver was transported to St. Anthony’s Hospital with gunshot wounds and was later pronounced dead.
The juvenile passenger was also transported to a hospital. She had minor injuries from the crash.
The sheriff’s office has confirmed that the car was associated with the attempted homicide in Lafayette, as well as a pursuit.
The male driver was wanted out of Westminster on felony charges and Adams County on misdemeanor charges.
The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office identified the man killed as 19-year-old Ryan Millsap on Monday afternoon.
Investigators will continue to work with the District Attorney’s Office to determine if the juvenile will face any charges.
The Critical Incident Response Team is conducting an independent investigation into the shooting. The Arvada Police Department is leading the investigation.
Highway 6 in Clear Creek Canyon reopened just before 7 a.m. Monday.
This marks the 57th officer-involved shooting in Colorado this year and the seventh in the last 30 days. There were 49 officer-involved shootings statewide in 2017.
