Pueblo police shoot at suspects accused of car theft, carjacking, trying to steal ATM
Three people were arrested Tuesday afternoon after police allege they stole a pickup truck, tried to steal an ATM, carjacked a vehicle from a 70-year-old woman and exchanged gunfire with police during a chase through Pueblo.
No one was seriously injured during the eight-hour incident, according to Pueblo Police Officer Meagan Chapman.
Police say the incident started just before 8 a.m. with a report that people in a dark-colored Ford F-350 pickup were attempting to steal an ATM from the Sunflower Bank at 1715 S. Pueblo Blvd. on Pueblo’s south side.
As the attempted theft occurred, a suspect fired a rifle at a witness, police said. When officers arrived on scene, they located the pickup truck and a pursuit ensued.
“The pursuit was eventually terminated due to excessive speeds in a residential area and failure to obey traffic signals,” Chapman said. She said the F-350 was later determined to have been stolen.
More: Man killed by police in shooting in north Pueblo; critical incident team investigates
At about 3:30 p.m., officers located the pickup driving in the area of West Pueblo Boulevard and Lake Avenue. The vehicle stopped in the parking lot of a business in the area.
“While officers were establishing a perimeter, the occupants of the vehicle were able to escape,” Chapman said. “Officers were notified by nearby civilians that the suspects had carjacked (a vehicle) from a 70-year-old female in a parking lot of a business across the street.”
The suspects, police say, then led officers on another pursuit through Pueblo for approximately 20 minutes. Officers attempted to end the pursuit with stop sticks — a tire deflation device — but they were ineffective.
As officers continued to pursue, the vehicle's occupants allegedly pointed at least one firearm out the window and began firing shots at officers while driving.
"One officer returned fire in an attempt to stop the threat to themselves and the community,” Chapman said in a statement.
The vehicle continued south of Pueblo on Interstate 25 to mile marker 86, where an officer used a patrol vehicle to execute a pursuit intervention technique maneuver and disable the fleeing vehicle.
Three occupants in the vehicle were taken into custody; two of them suffered injuries and were transported to a hospital, while a third occupant was not injured.
Charges have not yet been filed, Chapman said.
“All officers involved were uninjured. The 10th Judicial District Critical Incident Team led by the Pueblo County Sheriff’s office will handle the investigation," Chapman said.
One officer was placed on administrative leave per standard protocol, Chapman said, while the CIT investigates.
The shooting marked the second in three days that involved a Pueblo police officer.
Puebloan Brett Jay Chapman, 33, was killed Sunday afternoon in the 2700 block of Sixth Avenue after police were called to the area on a report of a suicidal man who had allegedly threatened to shoot himself and others and was attempting to stop passing cars.
Police said in a statement Sunday evening they arrived to find Brett Chapman wearing a tactical vest and armed with several firearms. They reported he ignored police commands and raised his weapon, at which point an officer shot him.
The department continues to operate as usual, despite having police officers on leave, Meagan Chapman said.
"We will still be out there for everyone," she said.
Police news: Pueblo police crack down on expired license plates after months of pandemic-era leniency
All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in court. Arrests and charges are merely accusations by law enforcement until, and unless, a suspect is convicted of a crime.
Chieftain reporter Tracy Harmon covers business news. She can be reached by email at tharmon@chieftain.com or via Twitter at twitter.com/tracywumps.
This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Pueblo police officers on leave after shooting at suspects
