WESTMINSTER, Colo. — Colorado State Patrol gave an update at noon Monday on a shooting last week involving a state trooper on U.S. Highway 36, the Colorado State Patrol (CSP) said.
CSP said at around 1:18 p.m. Sept. 7, a trooper was doing paperwork in his marked patrol vehicle in the median on Highway 36 eastbound, just west of Federal Boulevard.
While in his vehicle, CSP said, someone drove past him and fired several shots at him, with a single round striking the trooper. The driver then pulled over on the inside shoulder, got out of the car and began to fire more rounds at the windshield of the patrol vehicle, according to CSP.
CSP said the trooper, identified as Corporal Tye Simcox, got out of his vehicle with his rifle and fired, shooting the gunman. The gunman was pronounced dead at the scene, and Simcox was taken to the hospital with a gunshot wound to the forearm. He has been released from the hospital.
>Watch a replay of Monday's news conference in the video player below.
Simcox is a 16-year-CSP veteran, the agency said. Col. Matthew Packard, the chief of CSP, praised Simcox's heroism and courage.
"Our member was targeted today by a man that intended to kill him," Packard said at a news conference. "And that is shocking and unacceptable. But our Colorado State Trooper responded appropriately and swiftly and courageously and he won today. And by winning not only did he save his own life but he saved the rest of his community from someone that was clearly intending to do evil."
17th Judicial District Attorney Brian Mason said the fact that Simcox wasn't killed is "miraculous."
"This trooper had absolutely no warning whatsoever," Mason said. "There are cars coming on both sides of the highway. There would be no reason for this trooper to ever anticipate that one of those vehicles would slow down and unload his gun into the trooper's vehicle."
The gunman has been identified as Victor Anthony De Santiago. Colorado Division of Motor Vehicle records list his hometown as Thornton. According to the Colorado State Patrol, De Santiago was born in California and is a U.S. citizen. The agency went on to say that he's a "long-term" Colorado resident who has an "extensive" criminal history in the state dating back to when he was a juvenile.
Investigators are asking anyone who saw or heard anything or who has damage to their car from gunfire to call police.
Gov. Jared Polis (D) released the following statement on Sunday:
“Colorado thanks Cpl. Tye Simcox for his courageous and brave actions to protect himself and our community. I spoke with Cpl. Simcox yesterday after this alarming incident, we wish him a speedy recovery and thank Tye for his service to our state."
>Video below: CSP Colonel Matthew Packard speaks on shooting of trooper.
> Video below: DA Brian Mason speaks on shooting of CSP trooper.
