LARIMER COUNTY, CO – A traffic stop turned violent early Sunday morning when a Larimer County deputy fired their weapon at a driver who allegedly accelerated toward the officer after refusing to comply with orders.
The incident began at 2:32 a.m. when a deputy attempted to stop a vehicle near Grand Market Avenue and TPC Parkway. The driver refused to pull over and led officers on a pursuit down Colorado Highway 60.
When the deputy successfully forced the vehicle to stop just east of Interstate 25, the situation escalated rapidly. According to the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office, “the driver began to accelerate toward the deputy,” prompting the officer to discharge their firearm.
Both the driver and the deputy sustained minor injuries in the incident and were transported to area hospitals for treatment. Both were later discharged. An adult passenger in the vehicle was unharmed.
The driver was arrested later that morning on unspecified charges. Sheriff officials declined to provide details about the specific charges or clarify whether the suspect was struck by gunfire.
The deputy has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, which is standard protocol in officer-involved shootings.
Fort Collins Police and the Eighth Judicial Critical Incident Response Team are conducting an independent investigation into the shooting. The team examines all officer-involved shooting incidents to ensure transparency and accountability.
No names have been released as the investigation continues.
